Pass my best to your wife: Smith’s message to Kohli

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has taken his paternity leave and has started from Australia to be with his wife during the birth of his first child.

While India had just faced a humiliating loss in the 1st Test, Virat Kohli’s absence definitely will make things difficult for the team.

Talking about Kohli’s absence, Smith said that it’s a big loss for India.

“Obviously, it’s a big loss for India, not having him for the rest of the series. We just have to look at the way he played in the first innings. That was a pretty class display against some good bowling on a wicket that was doing a bit,” Smith told reporters during a virtual press conference facilitated by the series’ official broadcaster Sony Network.

He also added that he wished him and had asked to pass his best to Anushka Sharma.

“I just fist-pumped him at the end (of first Test) and said ‘Mate safe travels, hope everything goes well with the baby, and pass on my best to your wife.’ That was about it. I’m sure there would have been a lot of pressure for him to stay but to stand up and want to go home for for the birth of his first child, it’s a credit for him. It’s a milestone that he certainly wouldn’t want to miss,” he added.

Kohli will be missing out the final three Tests and Ajinkya Rahane will captain them. India will also miss the services of Mohammad Shami who had fractured his hand while facing a bouncer from Pat Cummins.