IND vs WI, 2022 – Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant exit Kolkata bubble for short break; likely to be rested for SL T20Is

The decision to rest Kohli is understood to be part of a policy aimed at ensuring the all-format regulars are given breaks periodically

ESPNcricinfo has learnt the decision to rest Kohli and Pant is part of a policy that is being put in to ensure the all-format regulars are given breaks periodically. Pant’s absence could allow some game time for one of Shreyas Iyer or Ruturaj Gaikwad, who have had to sit out of the T20Is so far owing to team combination. Ishan Kishan is expected to take over the wicketkeeping duties.

Meanwhile, Kohli’s break at this juncture, in particular, is to ensure he is fresh for the two-Test series that follow the T20Is against Sri Lanka. He is currently on 99 Tests and is set to play his 100th in Mohali on March 4. He had earlier missed the Johannesburg Test in South Africa due to back spasms.

“These things will have to be considered,” he had said. “Like what length of the tournament or series one is going to play and what impact it will have on players mentally to stay in a similar environment for 80 days and not do anything different.

“Or have space to just go and see family or small things like that. These things have to be thought about seriously. At the end of the day, you want the players to be in the best state mentally, based on how they’re feeling. Those conversations should take place regularly.”

Kohli was earlier rested from the New Zealand T20Is and the first Test in November following a long four-month stretch that began with the tour of England and ended with the T20 World Cup in October-November, with the second installment of the IPL in UAE thrown in between.

The 2022 IPL is also set to begin 11 days after the scheduled end of the second Test against Sri Lanka on March 16 in Bengaluru.