[Watch] Virat Kohli and other Indian players train intensely in nets at WACA ahead of 1st BGT Test vs Australia in Perth
Team India star Virat Kohli has commenced preparations in the nets for the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth. Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah and other squad members also hit the nets at the WACA to get themselves ready for the challenging series.
Captain Rohit Sharma has not traveled to Australia with his teammates due to personal reasons. Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has recently confirmed that Bumrah would lead the team if Rohit misses the Perth Test.
India are currently low on confidence after getting whitewashed in the Test series against New Zealand at home earlier this month. As a result, their chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the third consecutive cycle took a massive hit.
Senior players Kohli, Rohit, and the rest of the batting department have copped heavy criticism for their poor show against the Kiwis. They will be eager to return to form with good performances in Australia.
Fox Cricket's X handle shared a video to give a glimpse of Indian players' preparations at the WACA ahead of the first Test. In it, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and others could be seen practicing intensely in the nets.
You can watch the video below:
"We can't judge him from one series" - Suresh Raina on Virat Kohli's low returns in New Zealand Tests ahead of BGT 2024-25
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina extended support to Virat Kohli amidst criticism about his lean patch with bat after New Zealand inflicted a clean sweep over the Men in Blue. He credited New Zealand for their strong work ethic, which helped them become the first away team to win a Test series in India in 12 years.
"We need to give credit to New Zealand (for the whitewash). They played really well...Their cricketing ethics are very strong, in every sport. They played better than us, had good spinners...but we couldn't score much. Virat is doing really well, I think. We can't judge him from one series," Raina said in an interview with the Times of India.
Raina also put his weight behind under-fire Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying:
"I think Gauti bhai was such a player and (now) a coach that even when he used to play, he didn't pay much attention (to media/public scrutiny). But you know that when you lose, then there will be (comments made) about the coach. But I think he is a good leader and coach."
Do you agree with Suresh Raina's views above? Let us know your opinions in the comments section.