Fit Kohli spends long hours at nets, will lead India in third Test

Thankfully for India, the hard times did not get harder in England. In a major relief for the visitors, captain Virat Kohli was declared fit and available for selection for the third Test match at Trent Bridge starting on Saturday.

Thankfully for India, the hard times did not get harder in England. In a major relief for the visitors, captain Virat Kohli was declared fit and available for selection for the third Test match at Trent Bridge starting on Saturday.

Kohli, though not a 100 percent, batted in the nets for long hours without much difficulty and also took slip catches. More than the net practice, the sight of Kohli carrying three bats and a fully loaded kitbag at the end of India’s two-hour long session, gave clear indications of him regaining full fitness ahead of the third Test.

"Kohli is feeling much better. You saw him in the nets, he is moving much better and improving by the day,” said India head coach Ravi Shastri.

Kohli did not field for 37 minutes on Day 4 of the second Test match at Lord’s. As a result, he had to bat at no.5 instead of his preferred no.4 slot. During his 29-ball stay in the middle, Kohli was in discomfort on quite a few occasions, having difficulties in stretching forward because of his back injury.

“There shouldn’t be any problems, I think I would be fit for the third Test, I still have five days to recover,” the Indian captain had said at the post-match presentation of the 2^nd Test match.

Meanwhile, England head coach Trevor Bayliss feels even an injured Virat Kohli could become more dangerous as a player in the upcoming Test series.

"It (the back injury) could mean Kohli's more of a dangerous player. Through history there are a lot of players who have played with an injury and scored runs and taken wickets," Bayliss said.

"I don't know if that focuses the mind more but I have just seen him take some slip catches without any problems, so I'm sure he'll be playing. That won't change our approach to the way we play him."