Former India captain Virat Kohli was seen hitting the nets ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka which will be played at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali. This match will be a special one for Kohli, as it will be his 100th Test match for India.
Unfortunately, there would be no crowd in the stadium for the entire Test match owing to the pandemic and the protocols. The ticket windows are closed and fans are missing as the match will be played behind closed doors.
As the former skipper emerged from the dressing room to go to the practice nets, teammates Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, Jayant Yadav, and Ravichandran Ashwin formed a huddle around him.
WATCH - "You just feel like you’ve come home," Virat Kohli speaks on his love for Bengaluru city
Throwdowns from the support staff kept Kohli busy in the nets for almost 30 minutes while Ashwin bowled in the other net under the watchful eyes of Sairaj Bahutule, the spin bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The PCA has put up hoardings for Kohli’s milestone Test along the approach roads to the stadium though fans will not be able to see the batsman in action.
“It was BCCI’s directive to let the match take place behind closed doors due to the pandemic and also due to the less time at hand. We were to organise a T20 and the second Test earlier, but then the schedule changed,” said Punjab Cricket Association CEO, Deepak Sharma.
Here is a video of Kohli having a run around the ground:
(Hindustan Times inputs)
