[Watch] Virat Kohli sweats it out in the nets ahead of IND vs SL 1st ODI
Team India's ace batter Virat Kohli has arrived in Colombo ahead of the Men in Blue's upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. Ahead of the first fixture, the seasoned campaigner was seen hitting the nets to gear up for the 50-over matches.
In a video shared by one of Kohli's fan pages on social media, the right-handed batter was seen facing some throwdowns in the nets. The 35-year-old was also spotted having a discussion with pacer Harshit Rana, who earned his maiden ODI call-up.
The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka will be the first time that Virat Kohli will be seen in action since the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa last month. The opening encounter will take place at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, August 2.
Virat Kohli announced his T20I retirement after India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory
Virat Kohli was under the scanner during the 2024 T20 World Cup following a string of poor performances with that bat. However, the star batter delivered when it mattered the most, notching up an impactful half-century in the final against South Africa.
India found themselves in a precarious position after losing Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav in the powerplay. Kohli and Axar Patel steadied the ship for their team, stitching together a crucial 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Kohli was the top batting performer in the summit clash, scoring 76 runs off 59 balls. His clutch knock helped India register 176/7 in 20 overs. The Rohit Sharma-led side completed a stunning seven-run victory in the last thriller, ending an 11-year ICC trophy drought for India.
It is worth mentioning that India became the first team to win the men's T20 World Cup unbeaten. After India's title-winning campaign, senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20Is.
Kohli was adjudged the Player of the Match in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, while speedster Jasprit Bumrah was named the Player of the Tournament.