Virat Kohli has played 3 Test matches on Delhi’s pitch and scored 467 runs at an average of 77.83, including 1 double century and 2 half-centuries.
Image Credit source: AFP
To be the king of Kotla Virat Kohli Ready once again. Arun Jaitley Stadium is the home ground of Virat, from where he started his journey to become king. Kohli likes this ground. Virat has just played 3 Test matches on this ground and has scored 467 runs at an average of 77.83, including 1 double century and 2 half-centuries. These figures and this ground must have given confidence to Kohli as well as the courage to do what he has not been able to do for the last 1181 days.
Kohli has also geared up. In a practice session before the match, Kohli reached Kotla in his own car apart from the team bus. After reaching Kotla about 40 minutes before the team, Virat spent some time on the ground and then started preparing for which he and his crores of fans are waiting.
Virat Kohli practiced by scraping the pitch
Virat started practice with throw down and first practiced against medium pacer. The tinkling of Virat’s bat was clearly audible during the practice. After this he indicated to send the spinners to the net and said ‘call the spinners’. Picking up the bat, he went to the other nets and started practicing against the spinners. Virat scratched the rough made on this pitch with his shoes so that the ball could show the magic from there and he tried to play it.
Spinning all-rounder Saurabh Kumar, who played continuously for India A, made Kohli undergo special training. He was seen working on his weakness against the left-arm spinner, who has troubled the world’s best batsman Schumar Kohli in the past. During this, batting coach Vikram Rathore also reached there and closely observed Kohli’s batting.
Will not be forced in the match in front of the spinners!
Against off-spinners Pulkit Narang and Hrithik Shokeen, Virat continued to go ahead and play aggressive shots. This special preparation, this hard work done by Kohli on that field, which helped him to become king. If Kohli remained dedicated to the game, Kotla also blessed Virat for this hard work. In the nets, Virat was initially seen struggling against spin. But later he caught the rhythm. It is expected that now he will be able to repeat in the second Test as well.