|| India Correspondent ||

Justin Langer showed his "respect" for India captain Virat Kohli as he put his family before cricket. He also shared that Joe Burns would open the innings for Australia in the first Test against India.

India captain Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma, the famous actor are expecting their first child in January and Kohli will return to the country after playing the opening Test in Adelaide which will ends on December 21.

While the team India has reached Sydney and currently undergoing the 14-day quarantine, Kohli too would have to be in the mandatory quarantine period again for 14 days if he wants to head back to Australia, which means he will miss the final three Tests, slated to take place in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Meanwhile, His absence could help Australia in winning the Test series which India won two years ago against that team where Australia didn’t have the service of David Warner and Steve Smith.

"Virat Kohli is probably the best player I've ever seen in my life for so many reasons, not only batting but his energy and passion for the game, the way he fields," Langer told reporters by video conference.

"I cannot believe he displays the energy he does in everything he does and I've got so much respect for him. I've also got respect for him in the sense that he's made this decision (to return for the birth). He's a human being like all of us... if I was giving advice to any of my players I would always say never, ever miss the birth of your children because it is one of the great things you'll ever do," he further added.

Virat Kohli will lead India in three ODIs, as many T20Is and the first Test, which will be a day-night match -- before leaving for India.