[Watch] Virat Kohli Gears Up For South Africa Tests With Intense Net Session
Virat Kohli last played a Test match back in July 2023 (AP)
Virat Kohli recently missed India's intra-squad practice match in Pretoria, considering he took a short leave to visit London for a few days. Soon after rejoining the Indian squad in Centurion, the cricketer engaged himself in an intense nets training session in a bid to prepare for the forthcoming two-match Test series against hosts South Africa.
On December 24, i.e., a couple of days prior to the series opener at Centurion Park, the Indian batting legend was spotted gearing up for the imminent challenge by sweating himself out in the nets.
Virat Kohli trains in nets for SA Tests
Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli is set to make a return to competitive cricket through the upcoming away Test series against South Africa.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup, where he finished as the highest run-getter, the senior man distanced himself from team’s home T20I series against Australia and from the white-ball fixtures in South Africa citing fatigue.
As he braces himself for his much-awaited comeback, Kohli was spotted sweating it out in the nets a couple of days prior to the commencement of the Test series in India’s ‘final frontier’.
Watch: Virat Kohli batting in the nets
Apart from Virat Kohli, fellow senior members Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin will also be making their returns to the Indian team through the Test series.
The first of the two Tests is set to be played at Centurion Park between December 26 and December 30, and the series will be concluded in the first week of January at Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground.
The series holds much significance for the Indian team, considering they are yet to win a single Test rubber in South Africa. Moreover, the fixtures also constitute a part of the ongoing 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.