Virat Kohli to skip 1st T20I against Ireland owing to his Surrey County stint
Surrey County has reportedly confirmed that Virat Kohli will not be participating in India’s first T20I game against Ireland as he is contracted to play against Yorkshire. Meanwhile, while BCCI hasn’t given any confirmation, Rohit Sharma is likely to take the charge in Kohli’s absence.
Kohli was named the captain for the two T20Is against Ireland scheduled for June 27 and 29, which was clashing with his county stint with Surrey, who would play the county championship game, June 25, against Yorkshire. However, Surrey has now confirmed that Kohli would skip the first game to play for them at the Yorkshire game.
"He'll be playing for us in the Yorkshire game and will then be available for the second T20 in Ireland," Surrey's media wing confirmed India Today.
The BCCI has seemingly been left out of the loop in this matter and has not reported anything yet. Surrey had already made a deal with the Indian captain for the month of June but BCCI confused everyone by naming him captain for the Ireland leg of the UK tour. Kohli is scheduled to play three one-day games and another three four-day county fixtures for Surrey.
"Kohli will be available for all cricket throughout the month until the close of Surrey's trip to Scarborough to face Yorkshire," Surrey had reported.
One of the four-day fixtures would also see Kohli facing Cheteshwar Pujara from the Yorkshire side. While no official word has come from BCCI it has been speculated that the team’s limited-overs vice-captain, Rohit Sharma, would lead India in the first T20 against Ireland.