Xtra Time Web Desk: In what comes as a big blow for the Indian team, star batter Virat Kohli is unlikely to play the ODI series opener against England at the Oval on Tuesday. Kohli, who has been struggling to regain form has sustained a groin strain during the third T20 International.
The extent of Kohli’s niggle is still not known, but the Indian team management wouldn’t mind giving the 33-year-old veteran a break so that he is available for the next two games at Lord’s (July 14) and Manchester (July 17).
“Virat has a groin strain during last game. It can’t be confirmed whether it happened during fielding or while batting. He will probably miss first ODI tomorrow at Oval as the groin needs rest,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
It has been learnt that Kohli didn’t travel from Nottingham to London in the team bus and the reason could be a stopover to get a medical check-up done to assess his condition.
On Monday, only the players selected for the ODIs—Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj had an optional net session at the Oval cricket ground.