Virat Kohli rested for last two ODIs, T20i series against New Zealand

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the final two One Day International matches against New Zealand in the five-match ODI series. He will also be missing from the three-match T20 series against the Kiwis, starting from February 6. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a statement made the announcement and also declared that Rohit Sharma will be captain of the Indian side in Kohli’s absence.

BCCI said in the statement, "India captain Virat Kohli will be rested for the fourth and fifth ODI against New Zealand and the subsequent T20I series. 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. There will be no replacement for Mr. Kohli in the squad for the New Zealand series. Rohit Sharma will captain the side in the final two ODIs and T20I series’’.

Earlier, Virat Kohli was given rest for the Asia Cup which commenced after the India’s tour of England and Ireland where he played five T20i, 3 ODIs and five-match Test series.

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Later, Kohli returned to lead Team India against West Indies on the Indian soil before going on to the Australian tour.

Recently, Virat Kohli-led Team India created history when they clinched historic four-match Test series against Australia, which won 2-1.

Apart from this, Virat Kohli created history when he become the first cricketer to bag all the three individual honours in the ICC annual awards. Kohli bagged the ICC Test, ODI and overall Player of the Year awards apart from being named the captain of the International Cricket Council’s Test and ODI teams of the year following an extraordinary 2018. 

The Indian skipper has now become the only player in the history of the game to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Test and the ODI Player of the Year awards.