Star Indian batter, Virat Kohli is all set to return to competitive action in the upcoming Bangladesh Test series, starting September 19. The 36-year-old, who last featured in India’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka last month, will return to action, but this time to red-ball cricket after a break of almost nine months.
Kohli last featured in a Test match for India against South Africa in the rainbow nation and then went on to miss the five-match Test series at home against England due to the birth of his second child with Anushka Sharma, Akaay Kohli. Ahead of his return to Test cricket, Kohli landed directly in Chennai from London in an early-morning flight.
Virat Kohli joins Team India in Chennai ahead of two-match Test series
The 36-year-old dressed casually as he donned a white oversized t-shirt with brown baggy trousers. He was surrounded with CISF and police officials as they escorted him to the vehicle out of the airport in Chennai.
Watch Virat Kohli land in India ahead of the Bangladesh Tests:
Not only this, skipper Rohit Sharma also landed in Chennai ahead of the upcoming Test series against their near neighbours, Bangladesh. Notably, early on Thursday, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also reached Chennai. Furthermore, the players are returning to the field after a much-needed one-month long break and will aim to put their series loss against Sri Lanka behind.
Gambhir to take charge in Team India’s first red-ball assignment
The upcoming Test series will be former India cricketer and Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir’s first red-ball assignment. Moreover, he will be joined by the likes of Morne Morkel, among others in the coaching staff for the highly anticipated Test series. Moreover, Rohit Sharma will take charge at the helm, the side features star players in Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, among others. Also, Rishabh Pant is set to return to Test cricket after surviving a horrific accident in December 2022.
India’s squad for the 1st Test of the Bangladesh Test series: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.