India v England Tests: Shoaib Bashir visa issue and Virat Kohli's absence in spotlight

24.01.2024 - 13:23 thenationalnews.com

A five-match Test series in 2024 is as rare as they come. England's red-ball tour of India, which begins on Thursday, is therefore significant not only because it offers fans a "traditional" full-length series, but also because it will be the biggest test of their eye-catching "Bazball" approach to Test cricket.

The opening match between the teams starts in Hyderabad and, while the focus was almost exclusively on spin and the nature of the surfaces in the build-up, events away from the pitch added another layer of drama to the proceedings.

England arrived in India with one of the most inexperienced spin attacks in decades. Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir were picked for one of the most daunting tasks in cricket for spinners, but only two of them will take the field on Thursday after young off-spinner Bashir could not travel to India in time due to delays in his visa.

Bashir, who is of Pakistani heritage, could not get his application approved and was forced to fly back to London from Abu Dhabi – where the team held their pre-series training – to resolve the issue, ruling him out of the first Test.

India Cricket Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma England Cricket India Pakistan

Former pacer Stuart Broad says the ongoing India-England Test series is the most evenly-matched contest that he has seen between the two sides but the visitors have a strong chance of emerging triumphant as the "fire, passion and competitiveness" of Virat Kohli is missing from the home team's arsenal. Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the just-concluded SA20, where he was a commentator, Broad said the absence of Kohli due to personal reasons is a downer but the matches so far have been engrossing.

"Must Respect His Privacy": Ex-India Star's Take On Virat Kohli's Absence From India vs England Tests

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra opened up on Virat Kohli missing the ongoing Test series against England and said that everyone should "respect his privacy." While speaking to Jio Cinema, Chopra said that no one told the reasons why the former India skipper will be missing the entire Test series against England. "He has requested not to be considered for the whole series, no one has told us the reasons for which he sought this leave, and we must respect his privacy," Chopra said.

Watch: KL Rahul's Net Session Is Good News For Team India Fans Ahead Of 3rd England Test

India batter KL Rahul hit the nets ahead of the third Test against England, starting Thursday, February 15 in Rajkot. Rahul, who missed the second Test due to a quadricep injury, was added to India's squad, along with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, for the remaining three Tests. However, Rahul and Jadeja's participation will depend on the fitness clearance from BCCI's medical team. "The national selection committee included senior players Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul in the squad but their inclusion will be subject to clearance by the BCCI's medical team," the BCCI had said in their official squad release.

"Life Does Not Stop Because...": Ex India Star's Blunt Take On Virat Kohli's Absence From Tests

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra does not think that star batter Virat Kohli's absence will cost India the ongoing home series against England, pointing out that India also registered an iconic series win in Australia back in 2020-21 without their superstar batter playing three of four Tests. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the remaining three Tests of the five-match series against England, with star batter Virat Kohli set to miss the remaining matches as well due to personal reasons. Virat had earlier missed the first two Tests. Now, his absence is extended to three more games. His last appearance came in the T20I series against Afghanistan earlier in January.

First Time In 13 Years! Virat Kohli's Absence From England Series Creates An Old Void

The Indian cricket squad for the last three Tests against England is out. After much delay, the BCCI named the squad on Saturday. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer have not been picked while KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja are back, but only if they clear the fitness benchmarks ahead of the third Test that starts on February 15. Earlier, Virat had withdrawn from the first two Tests due to personal reasons. Now, with the squad for the final three Tests issued on Saturday morning by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Virat's absence has extended to the entire series.

BCCI's Big Statement On 'Virat Kohli's Decision' To Skip Last 3 Tests vs England

Virat Kohli has made himself unavailable for the remainder of the Test series against England, citing personal reasons. Kohli had also missed the first two Tests due to the same reason. Apart from Kohli, Shreyas Iyer will also take no part in the remaining Tests in Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala, respectively. Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja returned to the team, but their participation will depend on the BCCI's medical team's fitness clearance. On Kohli's decision to remain unavailable for the remaining Tests, the BCCI said that they "respect and support" the former captain's decision.