Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant to miss the 3rd T20I against West Indies; given a bio-bubble break by BCCI: Report

Former India captain Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant played instrumental roles in Team India’s series-clinching win against West Indies in the second T20I in Kolkata on Friday.

However, the star pair will not be seen taking the field in the third and final T20I as both Kohli and Pant have been given a bio-bubble break by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to a report in PTI.

The report states that the apex Indian cricket board has given both batters a 10-day break from the Indian team’s bio-bubble. Further, Pant and Kohli will not be playing in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, starting on February 24 in Lucknow.

A source known to the developments stated that BCCI has decided to give regular breaks to players from the bio-bubble in order to maintain their workload.

“Yes, Kohli has left home on Saturday morning as India have already won the series. As it has been decided by BCCI, it will be a policy to give all the regular all-format players periodic breaks from the bubble to ensure that their workload management and mental health is taken care of,” a senior BCCI official privy to the development told PTI as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Kohli has been with the Indian team since December when the side toured South Africa for three Tests and as many ODIs. The 33-year-old had led the team in the Test series before stepping down as captain in the longest format a day after the final Test in Cape Town.

Notably, Pant and Kohli played in all the three ODIs against West Indies and smashed crucial half-centuries in India’s thrilling 8-run victory over the Caribbean’s in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series.

After the win, Kohli, who rolled back into form with a 52-run knock, mentioned how he was satisfied with the way he played.

“I was happy that I went out with clear intent today, not think so much about whether I should try my shots or not, and it came off. It’s a nice way to start that innings for myself. When you play with responsibility over a long period of time, you tend to go into a mindset where you start thinking too much about whether you can take a risk or not, and I think sometimes, you tend to forget why you got to the stage you got to, and it’s important to back your instincts,” Kohli said in a conversation with host broadcasters.