I respect Kohli’s paternity leave,
but it will affect Team India: Langer
Melbourne, 13 November |
Australian head coach Justin Langer has praised Virat Kohli’s decision to take paternity leave but said it would have an impact on the Indian team during the Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Kohli will return home after the first Test match in Adelaide as the Cricket Board of India (BCCI) has allowed him a paternity leave. Kohli wants to be with his actress wife Anushka Sharma at the birth of their first child in early January.
“He is also a human like us. If I have to recommend to any of my players, I will always say that you must be present at the birth of your first child. This will be your best work.”
Langer said he respected Kohli’s idea of giving priority to family over cricket.
Langer told reporters via video conference on Friday, “Virat Kohli is probably the best of all the players I have seen in my life so far and there are many reasons. I believe this not only because of his batting but also his energy, passion for the game and his fielding.”
He said, “The way he pours his energy into everything he does is incredible and I respect him very much. The way he made this decision (to return home for the birth of a child), I also respect him a lot.”
Langer said, “He is also a human like us. If I have to recommend to any of my players, I will always say that you must be present at the birth of your first child. This will be your best work.”
Kohli will miss the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne (26–30 December), the New Year Test in Sydney (7–11 January) and the last Test in Brisbane (15–19 January).
Langer said that Kohli’s absence would definitely affect India but this should not prevent the Australian team from being relegated.
He said, “It will definitely have an impact (Kohli’s absence) but we also know that India beat us last time (2018-19). His team is very good. We should not become complacent even for a second due to the absence of Virat or not.”
