After ODI skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli has cleared fitness test, more than a month ahead of the ODI series on Australian soil. While there have been speculations about Rohit and Kohli’s future in international cricket, the senior duo have cleared both fitness tests, the pre-existing Yo-Yo and the newly-introduced Bronco test. However, Kohli not clearing the fitness test at Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru may lead to controversy.
As per a report by Dainik Jagran, Kohli underwent the fitness test in London. The report was then sent to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches who further submitted it to the board.
The report further quotes a BCCI official saying that Kohli "would have taken prior approval" from the board.
Kohli left for England after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win which was followed by celebrations at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. The celebrations were marred by the stampede outside the stadium that claimed 11 lives and left over 50 injured.
Kohli has not played competitive cricket since the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 3. He made an appearance at the Wimbledon 2025 to watch Novak Djokovic in action.
Kohli is set to play international cricket after a long break. His last international appearance was in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand on March 9, 2025.
Retired from T20Is and Tests, Kohli and Rohit will play the three-ODI series in Australia starting October 19. The first ODI is at Perth Stadium, the same venue where Kohli scored his last Test century.
Kohli’s ODI record in Australia
The 36-year-old has played 29 ODIs and scored 1,327 runs at an average of 51.03, including five centuries and six fifties. He will look to Sachin Tendulkar's record for most ODI runs in Australia. Tendulkar has 1,491 runs from 47 ODIs at an average of 34.67, including one century and 10 fifties.