5 times Virat Kohli was rested in recent times

There is no doubt that Virat Kohli is a super fit athlete who has proved his batting form and fitness over the years. He has been one of the idols for the youth, in the manner in which he handles himself on and off the field.

Kohli has broken several records, but in the process, seems to be tiring out due to the burden of three formats, as well as the IPL. The schedules have become taxing for him and his ardent fans are hoping that his body doesn't break down.

The recent neck and back issues have suggested that Kohli needs ample rest for his over-used body, and the BCCI has, in recent times, acknowledged that and given him rest.

Here are recent instances when the 29-year-old was rested from the Indian team:

#5 T20I series against Sri Lanka, 2016

After a gruelling series against Australia, where he emerged as the highest run-getter in the T20I leg, Kohli was given rest for the small T20I series against Sri Lanka ahead of the Asia Cup and the World T20.

The Indian batsman had been playing non-stop cricket for a while, and needed the rest ahead of an important season. Pawan Negi, the Delhi spin all-rounder, had been called up for the tour for the first time.

The move paid rich dividends as Kohli had a stupendous World T20 and capped it off with a brilliant season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, taking them to the finals.

Kohli had spoken as to why it was important to take a break then:

"Every cricketer's workload is assessed differently. If I play five games and if I don't make runs then my workload will not be that much compared to someone else.

"So, taking all these things into consideration, the physio and everyone felt that I should take a break because in the Asia Cup and World T20, we have to play with full intensity".

#4 ODI series against Sri Lanka, 2017

Ahead of the much-anticipated tour of South Africa, Kohli acknowledged that he needed rest to recuperate his tired body. Hence, he decided to skip the ODI series against Sri Lanka in the last part of 2017, handing the captaincy duties to Rohit Sharma.

"Last time I took rest, it was difficult to handle. But my body is asking for it right now. The workload has been massive, I have been playing non-stop for the last 48 months, I need rest. My body has taken a toll in the last couple of years. Right now is the perfect time to rest before the tour of South Africa", he had said at a post-match conference after the third Test against the Lankans.

#3 Nidahas Trophy 2018

The tri-nation series in Sri Lanka, also featuring India and Bangladesh, was a T20 tournament that saw both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli being rested, the latter requiring much-needed break after the torrid South Africa tour.

Kohli later admitted that he wanted to take time off to address a few niggles and give the body time to recover.

"Physically I had a few niggles, I am just getting over those. The workload has started to disagree with me a little bit. I have to be very careful about how I go forward with my body, my mind, my cricket".

"It is just nice to be resting for a bit, relaxing, very important to have these times as well and I am just embracing it, enjoying all the downtime. Trying to recoup and recover and (be) on the road again soon," he had said.

#2 Afghanistan Test 2018

The Indian team welcomed the Afghans, one of the two newest faces in Test cricket, for a one-off game earlier this year. Kohli, however, decided to skip the game and go for a county stint with Essex ahead of the England tour, in a bid to fine-tune his skills.

There was huge clamour regarding Kohli's absence, with people questioning him skipping a historic Test for a county stint. The BCCI had come out and clarified, with Amitabh Choudhary, the BCCI’s acting-secretary, defending Kohli's actions:

“There was no intention not to play him. It was only because the English challenge is something we have to rise to, to the satisfaction of the entire cricket fraternity of this country, that Virat will abstain for the right reasons.”

The Indian team won the match by an innings and 262 runs.

#1 Asia Cup 2018

A mouth-watering clash against Pakistan is ready for the Indian team, but Virat Kohli won't be a participant - deciding to skip the Asia Cup 2018 after a gruelling England tour. The Indian side lost the series 4-1, and even though Kohli had a great summer with the bat, he seemed to need time away from the game.

It was in the 2012 edition of the same tournament that Kohli had registered his highest score in ODIs, a 183 against Pakistan.

Kapil Dev had spoken out about Kohli's exclusion to Gulf News, stating that a whole team should not depend on one player.

“I feel no team should depend on one player. Sometimes the best player will not be there and the team should show the will to manage and win. Playing as a team is very important."