Despite BCCIs instructions, Virat Kohli declines to participate in Vijay Hazare Trophy - Report

New Delhi: Despite a clear advice from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), star batter Virat Kohli has refused to participate in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. This step has placed the Indian cricket board in a challenging position as the other stalwart Rohit Sharma has confirmed his availability for the Mumbai side.

As per a report mentioned in NDTV, this has come at a time when their is growing tension between Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir over the right-handed batter's role in the Indian cricket team in future. The report also mentions that national selector Pragyan Ojha has been sent to Raipur for the second ODI match between India and South Africa to address the current scenario within the Indian cricket team.

It is also being learnt that Kohli has refused to take part in the tournament as he isn't a strong believer of excessive practice ahead of a particular game. He stated the same after the culmination of the first ODI match in Ranchi where he played a match-winning century knock to help India post a massive total batting first.

At the post-match presentation, Kohli said that he has never been a believer of lot of preparation as all his cricket has been mental. He further said that what he only focuses on is his physical exercises and fitness levels ahead of a game and if he attains that, he is able to visualise batting.

Though the Indian cricket board has always remained firm on not giving any speciliased treatment to any big player including Kohli yet the megastar of the game has declined from participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team is in Raipur for the second match which can give them a series win in the 50-over leg.