Fatigue and niggles could curtail India captain Virat Kohli's much-hyped county stint to just a couple of first-class matches for Surrey after a hospital visit raised injury concerns.
While Kohli had visited a hospital in Mumbai for a check-up, it has been reported that he is suffering from a slip disc injury and will not be playing for Surrey ahead of the UK tour starting with two T20 Internationals against Ireland in June.
However, a top BCCI official, who is privy to Kohli's county engagements, clarified that it is a case of “neck sprain” and not a slip disc injury, as reported.
“Yes, Virat has had fatigue issues and this is a case of workload management rather than injury management. But it isn't a case of slip disc. As of now, we will be monitoring his workload,” the senior official said.
“We are chalking a plan wherein his county stint will be curtailed. He will play two four-day matches as per the original plan and not the five Royal London Cup (50 over) matches,” he added.
When pressed further on the reported slip disc injury, the official replied: “Yesterday, Virat posted his fitness video as part of the Government's 'Fitness Challenge'. I can tell you that the video was shot yesterday.”
Kohli had been tagged by Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in the social media campaign #HumFitTohIndiaFit and had posted a video of himself working out in the gym in response on Wednesday.
Asked why Kohli visited a spinal surgeon at Khar medical facility, the official said: “Virat had suffered a neck sprain during an IPL match in Jaipur (RCB's final game). The pain had subsided but he went for a precautionary check-up.”
However, there is no denying that Kohli has had tremendous workload during the past one year starting June 2017.
In this phase, he appeared in nine Tests and 29 of the 32 ODIs that the national team played. He also played 9 out of India's 18 T20 Internationals.
In all, he played 47 international matches with only Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya (48 each) playing a match more than him.
Add to it, the 14 IPL matches and his tally goes up to 61 in all.
The BCCI has already put a program in place where the centrally-contracted cricketers' workload and injury management is monitored through the National Cricket Academy.
The franchise physios and trainers are supposed to give weekly updates to the national team trainers and the ones present at the NCA.