Virat Kohli to be rested for final 2 ODIs, T20I series against New Zealand
India captain Virat Kohli will be rested for the fourth and fifth ODI against New Zealand and the subsequent T20I series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday.
The board said that the decision was made after considering Kohli's workload in the last few months.
"Considering his workload in the last few months, the team management and Senior selection committee is of the view that it would be ideal for him to get adequate rest ahead of the home series against Australia," BCCI's acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a press release.
The board said that there will be no replacement for Kohli in the squad against New Zealand.
In Kohli's absence, Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the final two ODIs and T20I series.
India on Wednesday defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets in the first ODI in Napier to take 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The second game will be played in Mount Maunganui on Saturday. The three-match T20 series begins in Wellington on February 6.
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Kohli on Tuesday became the first cricketer to win all three major ICC awards - the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and the ODI Player of the Year, following an extraordinary 2018.
In the historic Test series win in Australia, Kohli scored 282 runs at 40.28, including a hard fought hundred on a testing Perth pitch. In the following ODI series, he completed his 39th hundred, taking his tally across formats to 64.
Prior to the Australia tour, Kohli was rested for the home T20 series against the West Indies.
He was also given a break for the Asia Cup in September and Rohit led the team to the title in the event held in the UAE.
The Indian players have a hectic schedule going into the World Cup to be held in May-July.
After the ongoing New Zealand tour which ends with the third T20 on February 10, India will host Australia for five ODIs starting February 24 and soon after the IPL follows.
Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has already been rested from the limited-overs tour of New Zealand.
(With PTI Inputs)
