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New Delhi – The Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli puts family first before country after deciding to pull out midway of the India-Australia Test series to welcome his newborn child.
Last month Kohli announced that he will take paternity leave as he is expecting his first child with his Bollywood actor wife, Anushka Sharma, in January.
"It is a very, very special and a very, very beautiful moment in our lives and something that I truly want to experience," the Indian captain said.
Kohli said his decision was influenced by the fact he would have to quarantine in both countries -- meaning if his child was born while he was abroad, he wouldn't immediately be able to fly home and be with his family.
In cricket-mad India, players are revered almost as demigods, often facing unforgiving expectations. After big losses, their homes have been attacked, effigies of them burned, and their families threatened.
Kohli's decision to put his family over cricket evoked mixed reactions.
Harsha Bhogle, a well-known cricket commentator, for example, tweeted that the captain's absence would make the tournament tougher for team India, but hailed Kohli's decision. "There is more to life than just his profession," he said.
Rajdeep Sardesai, author of "Democracy's XI - The Great Indian Cricket Story," believes Kohli's decision could set a precedent for men across India wanting to take paternity leave.
"It encourages others who otherwise might have thought twice or might be constrained by the social environment in which they live, to break free," he says.
In 2015, India's then cricket captain MS Dhoni discovered he had become a father for the first time -- via text message.
Dhoni had skipped the birth of his daughter to compete in the World Cup in Australia, saying: "I am on national duties, so I think everything else can wait." - Agency, December 6, 2020.
