Justin Langer full of ‘respect’ for Virat Kohli’s decision to take paternity leave

Of course it will have an impact,” Australia coach Justin Langer said when asked about Virat Kohli returning home after the first Test in Australia later this year for the birth of his first child. Using an Aussie Rules Football parallel, Langer likened Kohli’s absence to “taking Dustin Martin out of Richmond”, but stressed that even without their captain, India “are a very, very good team” and “we have to be on our toes all summer”.

“Are we happy he is not playing? It’s like taking (AFL star) Dustin Martin out of Richmond,” Langer said with a laugh at a press interaction earlier today. “Of course it will have an impact, but we also know that India beat us last time (in 2018-19). They are a very, very good team. We cannot get complacent for a second with or without Virat.

“So we are going to have to be on our toes all summer, and we’re looking forward to that.”

Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their first child around the turn of the year, and Kohli has asked for – and been granted – paternity leave. The tour will start with three ODIs, followed by three T20Is, with the four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy played at the end. In a media statement earlier this week, the BCCI confirmed Kohli’s return after the first Test, which will be India’s first day-night Test overseas, but did not specify whether Kohli would rejoin the Indian Test squad at a later stage, though any return would have to negotiate strict quarantine protocols, adding to the time that he would not be available.

As far as Langer was concerned, though, taking time off for “one of the great things you will ever do” was worth the sacrifice on Kohli’s part.