Virat Kohli had pulled out of the first two Tests against England, citing personal reasons
Clarification: AB De Villiers Corrects Misinformation About Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s Second Child
Amidst uncertainty surrounding Virat Kohli’s return to the Test series against England, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers initially created a buzz by suggesting that Kohli and his wife, Anushka Sharma, were expecting their second child. Kohli had withdrawn from the Indian squad for the first two Tests, citing personal reasons, leaving his participation in the remaining series in question. During a YouTube live session, de Villiers addressed the speculation about Kohli’s well-being.
On his YouTube channel, de Villiers reassured fans, stating, “All I know is he is fine. He is spending a bit of time with his family, that is the reason he is missing the first two Test matches. I am not going to confirm anything else. I cannot wait to see him back. He is fine, he is happy.”
De Villiers went on to share a personal conversation he had with Kohli, mentioning, “Yes, his second child is on the way. Yes, it’s family time and things are important to him. If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for. I think most people’s priority is family. You can’t judge Virat for that. Yes, we miss him, but he has made the right decision.”
However, in a surprising turn of events, de Villiers later admitted to making a mistake regarding the information he shared, clarifying that the news of Virat and Anushka expecting their second child was not accurate.
“Family comes first and then Cricket. I had made a big mistake on my YouTube channel. That information was wrong and not true at all. I think whatever’s best for Virat’s family comes first. No one knows what’s happening there; all I can do is wish him well. Whatever the reason for his break, I hope he can come back stronger, better, and fresh from this,” De Villiers informed Dainik Bhaskar.
As India is yet to announce their squad for the third Test starting on February 15 in Rajkot, speculations persist that Kohli might miss not only the third but also the fourth Test.