Australian batsman Steve Smith on Tuesday said Virat Kohli deserves credit for prioritising the birth of his child over cricket as “there would have been a lot of pressure” on the India skipper to stay for the entire duration of the ongoing Test series.
Kohli head for home on Tuesday for the birth of his first child next month with actor wife Anushka Sharma.
“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.
“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,” Smith said.
“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.”