[In Pictures] Virat Kohli poses with net bowlers at MCA Stadium in Pune ahead of 2024 2nd IND vs NZ Test
Virat Kohli is one of the biggest cricketing legends with a huge fanbase in India. Several cricketers take inspiration from Kohli, who is one of the fittest athletes in the world. The 35-year-old recently made the dreams of several budding players come true by facing them in the nets ahead of the second Test against New Zealand at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, which starts on Thursday, October 24.
The former India skipper also took some time out to click pictures with the next generation of players from Maharashtra. In a post doing the rounds on X, Kohli was seen posing with net bowlers at MCA. Here are some of those snapshots:
This is not the first time Kohli has displayed love for his fans. The Delhi-born player often takes time out on numerous occasions to fulfil fans' wishes.
Virat Kohli scored a double century vs South Africa in his last Test at MCA Stadium in Pune
Virat Kohli would be more than thrilled to play at MCA Stadium in Pune. The right-handed batter had smashed an unbeaten 254 off 336 balls against South Africa in his last game at the venue. That was his seventh double ton in Tests. Team India won that game by an innings and 137 runs.
Apart from Tests, Kohli has also slammed three ODI tons at the venue.
Kohli failed to deliver against New Zealand in the first innings of the opening Test after departing for a duck. The senior batter, however, made up for it by scoring 70 in the second essay.
During his knock, he became the fourth Indian player to complete 9,000 runs in the format after erstwhile skippers Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid. The Men in Blue, however, lost the game by eight wickets to go 0-1 behind in the ongoing three-match Test series.
Virat Kohli needs 64 runs to complete 1,000 runs in Tests against the Kiwis. He has already scored over 1,000 Test runs against Australia (2042), England (1991), South Africa (1408), Sri Lanka (1085) and West Indies (1019).