Kohli will play his first competitive match since June 3 against Australia at the Perth Stadium on October 19.
What do you expect from a 36-year-old batter who has retired from two formats? If it’s Virat Kohli, then greatness. The former Indian captain has not played an international or ODI match since March 9. His last competitive match took place in June.
Ever since Kohli moved his home base to London, we have no idea about his form in the nets. His physical form remains excellent. Kohli passed the mandatory pre-season fitness test in September.
But when you are about to play a competitive match after 5 months, you will ask yourself some questions. When Kohli played his last ODI, he was an active Test cricketer. This is no longer the case. A lot has changed. For the first time in over a decade, questions will arise over his place in the ODI squad, with planning for the 2027 Cricket World Cup already in place.
Harbhajan Singh trusts Virat Kohli
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes all this will have no impact on Kohli. He expects the modern great to score two hundreds in the India vs Australia ODI series, which begins on October 19 in Perth.
“Some players thrive when things get tough; that’s when they give their best. And Virat Kohli is one of those players. He shines on the big occasions, and that’s what sets him apart from the rest. He waits for those big opportunities, those high-pressure matches, and that’s when he shows why he is a champion.” Harbhajan said on JioHotstar’s Amul Cricket Live.
Everyone knows that Australia is a country where Kohli has had some of his best moments in all formats. Harbhajan believes that will continue to be the case in this India vs Australia ODI series.
“When you play against the best, that’s when you earn respect, and he’s earned it, especially after scoring those hundreds in Australia and taking on the responsibility of leading the team. These are the challenges he’s looking forward to. Australia is his favorite hunting ground, and now he’s making a comeback after the IPL. I’m really looking forward to seeing him bat in these three ODIs, and I hope that out of these three, he gets at least two centuries for India. ” Harbhajan added.
Virat Kohli ODI record in Australia
| Scope | Carpet | Works | SH | Avg. | RS | hundreds | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2020 | 29 | 1327 | 133* | 51.03 | 89.06 | 5 | 6 |
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