Star batter Virat Kohli was beaming at the team’s practice at the Gabba in Brisbane as India prepared to play Australia in their opening T20 World Cup warm-up match. The former captain of India was spotted enjoying a good time with KL Rahul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Arshdeep Singh. Rahul, Arshdeep, and Bhuvneshwar were in splits as Kohli, who just got his 71st century after a wait of over three years, displayed some of his amusing dancing techniques.
Earlier, Kohli was having trouble with his form, but in the 2022 Asia Cup, he made a stunning recovery. Only behind Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, the right-handed hitter finished the continental competition with the second-highest run total.
Kohli also ended his nearly three-year absence from the tournament, the drought of the international century. He had scored a 122 not out against Afghanistan.
In the third and final T20I in a bilateral series, Kohli extended his hot streak by scoring 63 runs against Australia. The next T20I, against South Africa, saw Kohli hit 49 unanswered runs.
Before beginning their World Cup campaign against bitter rivals Pakistan at the storied Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23, India will play two exhibition matches.
India’s first warm-up match is against the hosts, Australia, on Monday. Against Wednesday, they take on New Zealand. Brisbane will serve as the location for both games.