With only a few days till the commencement of a blockbuster five-Test series against England, former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from red-ball cricket, visited a few of his colleagues and support staff at his London apartment. The informal get-together, which took place on the team’s break day, provided a chance for players to unwind and recharge before of the gruelling trip, which begins June 20 in Leeds.
Shubman Gill, the recently chosen Test captain, wicketkeeper-batsman and vice-captain Rishabh Pant, bowler Mohammed Siraj, and a few more were among those who visited Kohli. The evening event was calm and personal, with the batting legend, who has now retired from red-ball cricket, catching up with his teammates and national team pals.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who has led India in 68 of his 123 Tests, is the country’s most successful Test captain in England, with three victories.
The Delhi native may also attend a couple of games in London (the third Test at Lord’s and the fifth at The Oval) to support the team.
Gill, who took over as captain when Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired, will now command a rather inexperienced side. Notably, he has led the Men in Blue in T20Is on their 2024 tour of Zimbabwe. Gill has 32 Test appearances and 1893 runs at an average of 35.05, although his record in England is poor, with only 88 runs from three games during their previous visit.
After a week of practice at the Kent Cricket Ground, the visiting team is anticipated to continue their preparations at Headingley Stadium in Leeds, where the first Test will be played. Richard Robinson, Leeds’ chief curator, is working hard to create a surface that can withstand five days of cricket. With first-inning scores at Headingley typically hovering around 298, both teams will be looking to grab an early advantage.
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