Virat Kohli Lands in London; Joins Indian Squad Ahead of WTC Final 2023
Kohli will play an integral part for India in WTC Final 2023 | Twitter
Amidst the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2023), the preparation for the prestigious World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 has begun. After the end of the league stage, the first batch of players was flown to London, where India will clash against mighty Australia, but the former Test captain Virat Kohli wasn't part of that batch.
However, the maestro batter was part of the second batch that landed on May 25 (Thursday) in the United Kingdom. Reportedly, Kohli, alongside Ravichandran Ashwin, has joined the Indian unit - comprising Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj beside head coach Rahul Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip.
It is also reported that India's entrusted Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, who is serving a county stint with Sussex, is yet to join the Indian squad in London.
Interestingly, Pujara was the second-highest run-getter in County Championship Division II, amassing 545 runs in eight innings at an average of 68.12, which included three centuries and a half-century.
Meanwhile, the third and last batch of the Indian squad - including most of the players - will leave for England on May 20, two days after the IPL 2023 Final.
Here's India's full squad for WTC Final 2023
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat
Reserve players: Suryakumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar.
Nevertheless, India and Australia will be at loggerhead at the Oval for the WTC Final 2023, starting from June 7.