Indian batsman Virat Kohli on Tuesday (February 20) announced the birth of his second child with Anushka Sharma. He shared a heartfelt message and revealed that he and his wife Anushka Sharma were blessed with a baby boy, whom they named Akaay.
Virat Kohli wrote a message saying that he, along with Anushka Sharma, welcomed their second child on February 15. The India batsman sought blessings from fans and also requested everyone to respect his privacy during this time.
She stated, “With abundant happiness and our hearts full of love, we are happy to inform everyone that on February 15, we welcomed our baby Akaay & Vamika’s little brother into this world.
“We seek your blessings and good wishes at this beautiful moment in our lives. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time. Love and gratitude. “Virat and Anushka.”
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma giving birth to a second child indicate why the batsman opted out of the Test series against England. The batsman was unavailable for the first two games and was expected to return for the third game.
But it was not to be, as Virat Kohli also did not feature in the last three matches. It can be assumed that the batsman wanted to stay with his family and that is why he did not play in the ongoing five-match Test series against England, which is currently 2-1 with India leading.
Virat Kohli also previously opted not to play when he and Anushka Sharma gave birth to their first child. It was during the Test series against Australia in 2021 that he returned home after playing just one match in Adelaide.
Virat Kohli’s absence in the ongoing Test series against England has been quite visible. India’s batting line-up in the middle order has looked fragile in the series. Had he been there, things would have been different for team India in the series.
Virat Kohli to return to IPL
Virat Kohli is now expected to return to cricket during the Indian Premier League (IPL). The league will reportedly start on March 22 and end on May 26. The tournament will be played just before the T20 World Cup 2024 and hence will serve as a great preparation for the batsman.
Virat Kohli will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the league. The next tournament will be crucial for the team in the context of the T20 World Cup. He recently returned to the Indian team after more than a year. He played in the series against Afghanistan.
Although the batsman did not set the scene on fire in the series, he did indicate that he is very much in the team’s plans for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The right-hander has always been at his best when any important tournament begins. and would hope to make a big impact for the team.