Virat Kohli is gearing up for his first assignment in the India blues with another rigorous trip to Australia slated to comprise three ODI matches, starting Sunday in Perth. Last year, Kohli started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour at the same venue with a century before his series tapered off, ending with one of his poorest returns in a contest overseas.
Kohli would later announce his retirement from the Test format, alongside his long-time teammate Rohit Sharma, in May. While both players are returning to action after several months without competitive action, speculations are rife about their future in the ODI set-up, especially after Shubman Gill has taken over as the 50-over captain starting the trip Down Under.
Kohli had also come under scrutiny with no preparatory games behind him; however, former India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik believes that his old Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate has put in the hard yards even during the break after the IPL 2025 season. In a video on social media, Karthik revealed that Kohli had been undergoing intense practice sessions every week in his bid for the next ODI World Cup, still two years away. Kohli will be 39 during the next iteration of the tournament in Africa in late 2027.
Two, three sessions a week
“In London, he was training during this big layoff that he’s had after a long time in his life,” Karthik said. “And I also know he was practising cricket easily, two to three sessions a week,” said Karthik.
Dinesh Karthik said 🗣️
– “Virat Kohli is keen to play the 2027 World Cup, he is practicing 2-3 sessions a weak in London.” pic.twitter.com/jShFOwGnfg
— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) October 15, 2025
“That tells you the man is serious about wanting to play this World Cup,” Karthik added.
“And if he is around, there is no tension, according to me, because he knows what it takes to perform under pressure. And he’s done that time and time again. And I’m very confident he will do it again,” Karthik said.
Rohit, Kohli to play Vijay Hazare Trophy
Meanwhile, spin legend R Ashwin had also urged the selectors to push Rohit and Kohli to turn up for their respective sides in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prove that they are committed to the ODI format.
“If you need their services, you have to find a way. For example, the India ‘A’ series happened, so you need to ask them to play that series because there is not much 50-over cricket. They should have said that if you don’t play the series, I don’t think you fit in the plan. If not this series, then they have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, because that will let us know the kind of form you are in,” Ashwin had said on his YouTube channel.
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India will play three ODI matches in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney followed by five T20Is that the senior stalwarts will miss. They will return to action later in December for three ODIs against South Africa.
