Amidst doubts surrounding his performance, former Indian captain Virat Kohli impressed with his batting in a match simulation before the 1st Test against Australia. Despite undergoing a scan, Kohli showed no signs of discomfort as he faced the bowlers at WACA Ground in Perth. However, his potential opening partner KL Rahul sustained an injury during the simulation. The Indian team is gearing up for the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar series, starting November 22 at Perth.
Team India's preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy began on a disappointing note as three of their star batters, including captain Virat Kohli, failed to make meaningful contributions in a match simulation in Perth. With the pressure of needing a 4-0 series win against Australia to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final, India's struggles against New Zealand have put their chances in jeopardy. While Australia have announced their squad, India's lineup is still uncertain, adding to the mounting pressure.
In an epic moment in cricket history, India's captain Virat Kohli became the first player to score 50 ODI centuries, surpassing the record set by legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. The two icons of Indian cricket shared a special moment on the field, with Kohli bowing down in respect to his idol. The record also serves as a testament to Sachin's excellence, as it took over a decade since his retirement for another player to reach such heights.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has responded to India head coach Gautam Gambhir's criticism of his comments about Virat Kohli's batting form. Ponting expressed concerns about Kohli's recent Test performances, prompting Gambhir to defend the Indian captain. Ponting clarified that his comments were not meant as a dig at Kohli and that he has a good relationship with Gambhir from their time together at Delhi Capitals.
Regular Indian skipper Virat Kohli won't be the only one missing the first Test against Australia in the monumental Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Vice-captain Rohit Sharma will also be absent for the Perth fixture due to personal reasons. He will not be travelling with the Indian team and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the side against Pat Cummins & Co. in Rohit's absence. The team will address a press conference on Monday before departing for Australia and Rohit will not be a part of the travelling team.
With the highly-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia just around the corner, the focus is on India's batting lineup. According to Australian great Mark Taylor, India's transition from experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to younger talents like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal has not been smooth, primarily due to the indifferent form of their star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Taylor points out that in the past 12-18 months, Sharma and Kohli have not been making the bulk of the runs, while younger players like Jaiswal and Gill have been consistently outscoring them.
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli celebrated his 36th birthday in a quiet manner with his wife and two kids at home. After a crushing defeat against New Zealand in the Test series, Kohli avoided any public appearances and social media. The team's star batter admitted that this was the most relaxed birthday he has ever had, with the focus on his daughter instead. Kohli's form in the series has been heavily criticized as a major factor in India's loss.
India and New Zealand face off in the third and final Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After losing the first two Tests and the series, India hope to salvage some dignity and keep their hopes of the World Test Championship final qualification alive. Jadeja's three quick wickets have put the visitors in a tough spot as they reach 192/6 at the tea break. With India missing the services of Jasprit Bumrah, they will rely on a strong performance from their remaining bowlers while New Zealand will look to maintain their dominance and enforce a whitewash. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will also be hoping to get back the form ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia.
As the IPL 2024 final approaches, talks about the next season have already begun. According to rumors, Virat Kohli is set to reclaim his role as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for IPL 2025, replacing Faf du Plessis. While du Plessis has led the team admirably in the past three seasons, Kohli's return could bring a new surge of energy and determination as RCB aim for their first-ever IPL title.
In a crucial moment during Day 1 of the India vs New Zealand 2nd Test, Sarfaraz Khan's teammates, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, convinced him to opt for a Decision Review System (DRS) which led to the dismissal of Will Young. A viral video shows Sarfaraz appealing towards Ravichandran Ashwin and Rishabh Pant for a review, while Ashwin and Pant seemed unsure. The referral proved to be successful as Young was found to have got a glove on the ball, giving India an early breakthrough.