As India gears up for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Virat Kohli showed his intense focus during the team’s first practice session at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Tuesday, November 19.
Even though rain interrupted the training session—the lead-up to the high-stakes five-match Test series against Australia—Kohli stayed in the nets, continuing his batting practice long after his teammates had taken shelter.
The Indian team has been training at the WACA since last Wednesday, including a three-day intra-squad match against India A to prepare for the series opener. However injuries have already impacted the team.
Shubman Gill suffered a thumb injury during the practice match and will miss the first Test, while captain Rohit Sharma will also be unavailable due to personal reasons.
KL Rahul, who also picked up a knock during the match, made a quick recovery and was back batting two days later. On Tuesday, he impressed the team management with his form during the training session at the Optus Stadium.
Virat Kohli, under pressure to deliver following a lean patch, is using every opportunity to get ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 36-year-old remained in the nets even as rain brought an early stop to the team’s practice. His commitment was evident as he continued batting until the rain intensified, forcing him to stop.
Kohli’s efforts in the nets and the intra-squad match suggest he is focused on silencing his critics and proving his worth. With just two days left until the first Test his determination sends a clear message about his readiness for the challenge.
Kohli is also on the brink of making history in the upcoming series. With one more century in Australia he will surpass Sachin Tendulkar as the Indian batter with the most Test centuries Down Under. Tendulkar scored six centuries in 20 matches, while Kohli has already matched that tally in just 13 games.
