Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has revealed that he and his wife Anushka Sharma have become parents to a baby boy named Akaay. The couple, who already have a daughter named Vamika, shared the news on their social media accounts on February 20, 2024. They expressed their happiness and gratitude and asked for their privacy to be respected.

Kohli’s announcement put an end to the speculation about his absence from the ongoing home Test series against England. Kohli had withdrawn from the series for personal reasons, without giving any details. He had missed the first two Tests in Hyderabad and Vizag, where India lost the first one and won the second one. He had also skipped the third Test in Kolkata, where India won by an innings and 76 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Kohli is one of the most popular and successful cricketers in India, and his decision to prioritise his family over his career was supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and his teammates. Kohli had also returned home after the first Test of the four-match series against Australia in 2021, to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.

Kohli and Anushka, a famous Bollywood actress, got married in 2017 in a private ceremony in Italy. They are one of the most celebrated couples in India, and have a huge fan following. They often share glimpses of their personal and professional lives on social media.

The fourth Test of the series against England will start on February 25 in Ranchi, followed by the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala from March 7. India need to win the series by at least a 2-1 margin to qualify for the final of the ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand.