Virat Kohli Injured Before Champions Trophy 2025 Clash vs Pakistan? Trains Extra Times In Nets
Published - 22 Feb 2025, 05:04 PM | Updated - 22 Feb 2025, 05:07 PM
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Even though India won the opening game of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium, Virat Kohli had a tough time in the middle against the opponent spinners on the slow and low surface, as he continued to face huge challenges in the contest.
The Delhi batter had a scratchy time in the middle, as the Bangladesh spinners asked him some serious questions about his batting technique and ability.
Virat Kohli's recent ODI struggles
Last year, the Blue Brigade took part in just three ODIs, all of which came on the slow and spinning surfaces in Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli managed just 58 runs in 2024 in three innings at an average of 19.33 and a strike rate of 84.06, thanks to the best score of 24 runs.
Also Read: Ex-India Opener Ridicules Bangladesh’s Humiliating Defeat In Champions Trophy 2025
That came after his marathon time in 2023 in the 50-over format, when he drilled 1377 runs in 24 ODI innings at an average of 72.47 and a strike rate of nearly 100, shouldering on six centuries and eight half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 166 runs. Kohli also finished as the leading run-getter of the 2023 ODI World Cup at home.
But this 2025 has not started the way Virat would have liked. He missed the Nagpur clash against England in the home series before celebrating a half-century in the third game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. But he got another struggling knock of 22 runs in 38 balls.
It took him more than 30 deliveries to drill his first boundary against Bangladesh in Dubai. On the same surface, he saw young Shubman Gill carrying them over the line with six wickets in hand, thanks to an unbeaten century in 129 balls on the back of his nine boundaries and two sixes.
Virat Kohli chills in the changing room with an ice pack on his left leg after training before the Pakistan game
The former Indian captain arrived an hour before the rest of the Indian side on February 21 (Saturday) in training on the eve of their second encounter against Pakistan. Sitanshu Kotak, the batting coach of the side, and the throwdown specialists Nuwan Seneviratne and D Raghvendra also joined Virat Kohli in the practice session.
By the time the entire side arrived and started their warm-ups, Kohli was done with the first of his net sessions. After 15 minutes, he removed his batting gear and took a break in the dressing room with an ice pack on his left leg. That has created concern among the Indian fans.
Virat Kohli missed the Nagpur ODI a couple of weeks ago against England for the same knee issue. The initial time for the Indian side to train was around 1 in the afternoon, but Kohli decided to put more attention on his batting before the mouth-watering clash. Most of the time in the nets, he looked to play with the open face.
Batting done, Virat Kohli is chilling in the change room with an ice pack on his left leg. Hope nothing more than soreness! pic.twitter.com/8lsL6ZTSH4
— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) February 22, 2025
“I think he is trying too hard. Coming 90 minutes earlier to practice is a sign. He can come two minutes before the match and get going. I think he is trying a bit too much.” Sanjay Manjrekar expressed on Star Sports.
Virat Kohli’s special ODI record vs Pakistan
The 36-year-old has enjoyed his batting against Pakistan in the ODI format with 678 runs in 16 innings at an average of 52.15 and a strike rate of around 100.30, thanks to three centuries and two half-centuries at the best score of 183 runs.
His biggest challenge in the contest will be to face Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah against a new ball. If he can survive the initial stage, then it would be full of runs for the veteran batter.
