Virat Kohli is Back: What to Expect in the India vs England Showdown After His Knee Injury

Cuttack: Excitement filled Barabati Stadium as Virat Kohli arrived for practice. Fans packed the stands, eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite player. Though it wasn’t a match day, local authorities opened the gates so that supporters could cheer for Kohli as he headed straight to the nets with Gautam Gambhir watching from above.

Kohli missed the previous game in Nagpur due to a knee issue. His last match was for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, where he scored just six runs. Before that, he had a tough time in Australia, struggling with his form. Aware of his challenges, he spent time in the nets working to correct his technique, focusing on patience and shot selection. If deliveries were outside the fifth or sixth stumps, he let them go, adjusting his technique steadily.

These practice scenes are familiar for Kohli, especially in limited-overs cricket, where he often builds innings before taking calculated risks. Although Shreyas Iyer performed well in Nagpur, scoring fifty, Kohli’s presence is crucial for the stability of India’s middle order. A solid score from Kohli would not only boost his confidence but also bring depth to the batting lineup.

The Indian team showed resilience, bouncing back after early wickets in earlier matches. As batting coach Sitanshu Kotak noted, even after losing wickets, the team kept their scoring rate high. Kohli’s experience is vital in this dynamic setup. With players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja around him, he helps anchor the batting when the team is trying to find its rhythm.

With two matches left in the series, Kohli is just 94 runs away from joining the elite club of players with 14,000 ODI runs, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. He could become the fastest player to reach this milestone if he achieves it in just 283 innings, beating Tendulkar and Sangakkara’s records. As the team refines its strategy, fans eagerly await to see Kohli back in action, making his mark once again.