Kevin Pietersen Supports Virat Kohli’s Decision to Opt Out of Tests for Personal Reasons: The Indian cricket team’s star batsman, Virat Kohli, has decided to step away from the first two Test matches in the upcoming series against England, citing ‘personal reasons.’ The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday, assuring that a replacement would be named shortly. In their official statement, the BCCI requested both the media and fans to respect Kohli’s privacy and avoid speculating on the nature of his absence.

Renowned former England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen, expressed similar sentiments on social media, urging respect for a sportsperson’s decision to withdraw from events due to personal reasons. Pietersen shared his thoughts on the matter, stating, “If a sportsman pulls out for personal reasons, RESPECT IT! End of!” via his post on X.

This development follows the confirmation from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that star batter Harry Brook will also be missing the India Test tour due to personal reasons. The ECB released an official statement, announcing Brook’s immediate return home and expressing that a replacement player would be confirmed for the tour in due course.

Notably, this isn’t the first time Kohli has taken a break for personal reasons. Recently, he sat out the first T20I against Afghanistan for similar reasons. During India’s tour of South Africa, Kohli took a short break, missing an intra-squad practice game and flying to London shortly after arriving in South Africa.

Kohli’s decision to step back during a Test series, unrelated to any injury, was last seen in 2021 when he took paternity leave after the birth of his daughter Vamika. During that series, he played only the first Test before taking a break.

As the cricketing community awaits the announcement of Kohli’s replacement, it is crucial to respect the personal choices of players, emphasizing the need for privacy during such times.