India superstar Virat Kohli has hit the nets early, two hours before the scheduled start of India’s practice session on Saturday ahead of the Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy 2025.
The media advisory issued by the ICC stated that the Indian team would train at the ICC academy ground in Dubai from 1 PM local time. However, Kohli arrived around 11 am local time accompanied by some support staff – especially for the throwdown specialists.
His teammates followed about an hour later. Virat Kohli’s nets session began with a throwdown before shifting his focus to playing spin. Some local net bowlers were present, but apart from those who had been informed beforehand, Kohli’s early arrival caught everyone ffguard.
It was his personal decision to have extra session before joining team training, which he communicated to the team management. The rest of the squad arrived aroud 12.15 PM.
Beyond facing throwdown and spinners, Kohli took on the pacers in the nets. When the other players began their turns, he took a breather, resting his feet on ice packs.
Kohli form has seen a dip after the 2023 ODI World Cup. His last century comes from the match against New Zealand during the ICC tournament in 2023. Since then, he scored only two half centuries in the format.
Virat Kohli scored 22 runs off 38 deliveries in the India’s Champions Trophy opener match, before failing once again to leg spinner. Certain dismissals have become a recurring pattern for him.
Virat Kohli has played 298 ODIs and scored 13,985 runs with a high score of 183 at an average of 57.78. He has over 50 centuries in the limited over format.
Playing 16 ODI matches against Pakistan, Virat Kohli has 678 runs including three hundreds at an average of 52.15. The former India captain looks determined to avoid another slip-up.
The arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to clash once again in the Champions Trophy on February 23 at Dubai International Stadium.
