Virat Kohli is fit. Fit enough to pick up a cricket bat and practice his cover drives in the nets. That pretty much erases the doubts on the Indian captain’s availability for the upcoming Ireland and England tour.
Kohli, who was ruled out of the month-long County stint with Surrey after suffering a neck injury during an IPL match, finally hit the nets, under the watchful eye of India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) facility, reported TOI.
“He’s begun with a relatively lighter stint at the indoor nets. In a couple of days, he’ll be back on the field and by the end of the first two weeks (of June) – around the15th – he’ll be in Bangalore for the fitness test and to begin training,” a source said.
Kohli has not been included for the historic one-off Test match against Afghanistan. The Indian captain instead, would go for a fitness test on June 15 at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, a day after the Test match begins in Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Kohli’s progress will be keenly monitored and he will continue to bat in the nets in Mumbai before going for the fitness test.
However, there is very little doubt about Kohli’s participation in the Ireland T20Is. After the fitness test, Kohli would fly with the rest of the Indian squad on June 23. India will play two T20Is in Ireland on June 27 and June 29, before flying to England for the three T20Is and three ODIs, followed by a five-match Test series.