Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has returned to the country after nearly four months abroad, ahead of Team India’s departure for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Australia starting Sunday. Kohli recently celebrated his first IPL title with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
He spent the off-season in London with his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, and their two children. He will join the national squad in Delhi before the team leaves for Perth on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli with Rohit Sharma Join IND-AUS ODI Series
Having retired from Tests and T20 internationals, Kohli was named in India’s ODI lineup for the three-match series, which will be his first game for the national team since the Champions Trophy victory in March. The 36-year-old will play under newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill, who takes over from Rohit Sharma.
Rohit, 38, has also stepped away from Tests and T20Is but will rejoin the national team for this series after a six-month break. India’s white-ball tour starts with the first ODI on October 19 at Perth Stadium, followed by matches at Adelaide Oval on October 23 and the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25. The teams will then compete in a five-match T20I series beginning October 29.
Both Face Crucial Test Ahead of Upcoming ODI Series Against Australia
India last visited Australia for a bilateral ODI series in 2020–21, where they lost 2–1 but came back to win the T20I series by the same margin. With the next ODI World Cup still two years away, the performances of Kohli and Rohit will be closely monitored. Both have had hardly maintaining their best form in recent seasons. Former India coach Ravi Shastri stated that the upcoming series could be crucial for their World Cup hopes.
“The Australia ODIs will be a crucial test for both Virat Kohli and Rohit,” Shastri said. “They need a strong series to reaffirm their spots and push for one more World Cup appearance in 2027.”
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