1st Test Against South Africa: Virat Kohli joins Team India

According to sources, veteran batsman Virat Kohli has rejoined the Indian red-ball squad in South Africa ahead of the Boxing Day Test against the Proteas in Centurion. Earlier this week, a BCCI source revealed that Kohli has returned to India for personal reasons and is now in contention to take the field for the first time on December 26 after the World Cup final defeat last month. The two-match Test series will be part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

Currently, India are on top of the WTC table with one win and one draw, giving them an overall points percentage of 66.67. He will be a key figure for India as he was the country’s leading run scorer with 932 runs in 30 innings during the last WTC cycle and has scored a century and a half in his team’s two completed Test matches against the West Indies to begin 2023. Have made it. -2025 cycle.

In seven Test matches this year, Virat has scored 557 runs at an average of 55.70, which includes two centuries and one half-century. His best score is 186. The champion right-hander has also been in great form in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup on home soil, as he scored 765 runs including three centuries and six fifties and won the Player of the Tournament award.

Virat has an excellent record against the red ball in South Africa, with the 35-year-old scoring two of his 29 Test centuries against the Proteas away from home. This is one of three countries where Kohli can boast of averaging over 50, his healthy average of 51.35 being bettered only in Australia and India on home soil.

Overall, Virat has scored 719 runs in seven Test matches in South Africa, which includes two centuries and three fifties. The last time India traveled to South Africa they suffered a 2-1 series defeat during the last WTC cycle.