[Watch] Virat Kohli sweats it out in the nets ahead of 1st 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test
Former Indian captain Virat Kohli was seen putting in the hard work in the nets on Wednesday, November 20, as he prepares for the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series, which starts on November 22 in Perth.
Kohli is coming off a lean patch, having struggled in India’s recent home Test series against New Zealand. The star batter managed just 93 runs across six innings in three matches, as the Kiwis completed a whitewash.
With Rohit Sharma unavailable, Kohli will need to step up and lead the batting lineup as India aims for a third consecutive series win Down Under. On Wednesday, he was seen working diligently in the nets, fine-tuning his game ahead of the challenge.
Here’s a video of Virat Kohli batting in the nets:
The 36-year-old is India's fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket, having amassed 9,040 runs in 118 matches at an average of 47.83, including 31 fifties and 29 centuries.
Irfan Pathan lists reasons why he believes Virat Kohli will shine in BGT 2024-25
While Virat Kohli's recent form heading into the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy hasn't been impressive, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the seasoned batter will excel in Australia.
Although he has scored only 250 runs at an average of 22.72 from six Tests in 2024, with just one fifty, Pathan is confident that Kohli's ability to perform under challenging conditions will help him thrive Down Under.
Pathan shared his thoughts in a post on X:
“Why I believe Virat Kohli will excel in Australia: 1) He thrives against pace. Despite his recent dip in Test form, his numbers against pace remain exceptional. Australia’s fast and bouncy pitches will play to his strengths. 2) Kohli feeds off energy and big challenges. The Aussies will come hard at him, and there’s no bigger Test challenge than playing Australia in their backyard. This is when Kohli’s competitive spirit truly shines.”
Kohli has an impressive record in Australia, having accumulated 1,352 runs in 13 matches at an average of 54.08, including four fifties and six centuries.