Former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from red-ball cricket, hosted some of his teammates and support staff at his London home with just days to go before the commencement of a thrilling five-Test series against England. The team’s casual gathering, which happened on a day off, gave the players a chance to relax and have a change of pace before the rigorous trip starts in Leeds on June 20.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj, wicketkeeper-batter and vice-captain Rishabh Pant, and recently anointed Test skipper Shubman Gill were among the visitors to Virat Kohli house. The batting mainstay, who has officially retired from the red-ball format, spent the peaceful and private evening session meeting up with his teammates and national team pals.
With three victories, Virat Kohli , who captained the team in 68 of his 123 Test matches, remains India’s most successful Test captain in England.
In addition, the Delhi native may be in the stadium to support the team during the third Test match at Lord’s and the fifth at The Oval in London.
Gill is now expected to lead a team that lacks experience because he took over as captain following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Kohli. During the 2024 Zimbabwe trip, he notably led the Men in Blue in Twenty20 Internationals. Gill’s record in England has been below average, with only 88 runs from three games, including their most recent tour, despite having played 32 Test matches and amassed 1893 runs at an average of 35.05.
The visiting squad is anticipated to start their preparations in Headingley in Leeds, where the first Test is scheduled to take place, following a week of practice at the Kent Cricket Ground. Richard Robinson, the chief curator at Leeds, is working hard to create a surface that can support five days of play. Both teams will be trying to get an early lead at Headingley, where first-inning scores typically hover around 298.
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