After a disheartening end of Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL 2023 journey, star India batter Virat Kohli is set to face the Aussies in the Test Championship finals. Ahead of the prestigious game against mighty Australia, Kohli joined the Indian team in London and started practising in nets.
Notably, India is set to face Australia in the finals of the Test Championship at the iconic Oval Cricket Ground in London from June 7. Some players of the Indian cricket team have reached London, while others will reach it after the completion of the ongoing Indian Premier League. Kohli, whose team didn't make it to the playoffs, reached London on Friday.
It's worth noting that Kohli is in red-hot form and coming into the game after a successful run with the bat in IPL 2023. Kohli smashed two back-to-back centuries in the last two games against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans. However, due to a lack of support and poor bowling performances, his team failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Virat Kohli will be key for India in Test Championship finals
After making a great comeback to form in Asia Cup 2022, Kohli never looked back at two poor years. He has been phenomenal with the bat since then, scoring 1596 runs in 38 innings. In between, he has hammered five centuries and eight half-centuries in international cricket. He is the leading run-scorer for Indian cricket team.
In 2023, he has been amazing with the bat as he has scored 724 runs in 13 matches. He averaged 51.71 and smashed three centuries and a half-century, including 186 against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He will be a key batter for India in the prestigious game and would like to continue his dominance with the bat.
India's squad for Test Championship:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk)
Reserved players - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar and Suryakumar Yadav
Here is how fans react to Virat Kohli's practice sessions:
Virat Kohli in Tests 🤍🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/ZfaZfEV6fA
— Virat Kohli Worldwide (@ViratianTweets) May 27, 2023
Everyone will forget IPL once Indian team steps into the ground for WTC final, All the best Virat ❤️
— Shubman Gang (@ShubmanGang) May 27, 2023
What couldn't be achieved as a skipper, now it's time to make it happen as a player. An opportunity as big as this, shouldn't be missed twice. Time to get that test mace which India deserves so badly. Prepare well for the WTC finals, Virat. All the best!pic.twitter.com/0QDrnUg0pv
— Rahul Sharma (@CricFnatic) May 27, 2023
Hoping Double-Hundred on cards.
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) May 27, 2023
— Guhan (@TheDogeVampire) May 27, 2023
Come on King 👑.
— CMA Monesh (@Cmamonesh) May 27, 2023
Bring us the Mace one more time ❣️😍🥰 pic.twitter.com/HHFFwYoYbR
Naveen ne aap k liye aam bheje hain pic.twitter.com/VOhHtJ2XF8
— P (@CuleFromCampnou) May 27, 2023
This is what everyone loves … The main Format in all … The #Test Cricket … The #Boss of all …. Your #Passion Your #Attitude towards this format is what make this the best of all and this is why we now njoy #Test more than any other format … #BringWTCHOME Sir ..🙏 pic.twitter.com/2L8BVF0mqq
— Fantasy11 Teams And News (@teams_dream) May 27, 2023
Now it's time to win WTC #India
— Hiya (@lakshitbiradar) May 27, 2023
Suits you. Wo laal jersey to bilkul suit nai hoti. Look How gill is rewarded with a win after scoring runs bcos other 10 also turns up unlike team in red. Come to GT next?
— Archer (@poserarcher) May 27, 2023
Also all the best for WTC