India's batting juggernaut Virat Kohli is gearing up for the big match against Australia in their ODI World Cup opener on October 7, which will mark his fourth appearance in the showpiece event since his debut in the victorious 2011 campaign. The spotlight isn't just on Kohli's batting prowess but also his fielding, as he stands on the brink of surpassing India's spin legend Anil Kumble's record.
Currently, both Kohli and Kumble are at par with 14 catches each, representing India in ODI World Cup matches. While Kumble set this benchmark in 18 matches, Kohli took 26 games. As Kohli gets into the thick of the ODI World Cup 2023 action, surpassing this record is firmly on the horizon.
In the lead-up to India's inaugural match against Australia, Kohli's commitment was on full display during the team's first training session in the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.
All eyes will be on India's bowling combination in the match against Australia on Sunuday. Will the team lean towards an additional pace attack with Mohammed Shami, or will they rely on the spin prowess of local favorite, Ravichandran Ashwin? Given Hardik Pandya's capability to bowl 6-7 overs, the temptation to field Ashwin, who could potentially rattle the Australian batters, is strong.
During India's practice session, Kohli's dedication was evident as he faced an array of throw-ins and then challenged himself against some local net bowlers. Even though the practice session was scheduled for two hours, the Kohli invested an additional 45 minutes, possibly compensating for the missed warm-up games which often assist in match simulation.
However, India's absence from the World Cup warm-up matches might not be a severe setback. The team had already squared off against Australia in a recent three-match ODI series. While Kohli sat out the first two matches of this series, he showcased his impeccable form by scoring a measured 61-ball 56 in the concluding ODI held in Rajkot.
India's Squad For ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
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