SYDNEY: Australia’s Steve Smith has stated though Virat Kohli missing the last three Tests of the upcoming four-match series will be a big loss for Team India, fans and stakeholders will have to understand that the Indian skipper is a human being and has life outside cricket.
Kohli will lead India in the first Test to be played at the Adelaide Oval from December 17. After that he will return to India to be with his wife Anushka for the birth of their first child.
“No doubt it is a big loss for India. We know Virat is a world class player and you got to give him credit for how much he loved playing down here. (But) He is also a human being and has got a life outside of cricket and a family that is starting,” Smith told reporters in an online media interaction from Adelaide.
“Credit to him for wanting to be there for the birth of his first child. We know how much he loves playing in Australia and how good he is. Lots of credit to go to him for wanting to be there,” he added.
Smith is also being considered for the captaincy role after having served his suspension. He was banned from playing for a year and banned from captaining Australia for another year.