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Virat Kohli is in Sri Lanka for the upcoming three-match ODI series starting on August 2. Kohli, along with Rohit Sharma, has been included in the 15-man squad, marking the first assignment for head coach Gautam Gambhir in this format. Both Kohli and Rohit will look to forge a strong partnership with the new head coach as India gears up for the Champions Trophy 2025. The series is crucial for India’s preparation, with experienced players like Kohli expected to lead by example.
Stellar performance in the T20 World Cup
Kohli recently silenced his critics during the T20 World Cup 2024 held in the United States and the West Indies. He played a match-winning inning of 76 off 59 balls against South Africa in the final, stepping up when other key players like Rohit, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav struggled. Kohli’s brilliant performance helped India post a competitive total of 176, which proved to be enough for a victorious outcome. His efforts earned him the Player of the Match award as India ended an 11-year drought for an ICC trophy in men’s cricket.
Momentum from T20I Series Win against Sri Lanka
Meanwhile India will enter the ODI series on the back of a 3-0 sweep in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. The combination of Suryakumar and Gambhir has already shown promising results, with the team taking many positives from the T20I series victory. The presence of experienced players like Kohli and Rohit sets a strong foundation for India as they transition into the ODI format. Kohli was also seen practicing intensely in the nets ahead of the series, indicating his commitment and readiness.
Also READ: Virat Kohli receives a warm welcome in Colombo ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka
Special memento from Sri Lanka net bowlers
In a recent post that has gone viral on the internet, Sri Lankan net bowlers gifted Kohli a special memento and took pictures with him after the training session. This act of admiration is not new for Kohli; last year during the Asia Cup 2023, Sri Lankan net bowler Chandramohan Krishan gifted Kohli a silver bat engraved with details of his 76 international centuries. The memento also included a message wishing Kohli luck for his quest to reach 100 international centuries. This moment highlighted the respect and admiration Kohli commands across the cricketing fraternity.
Sri Lankan net bowlers gifted Virat Kohli a special memento. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1M9X0UU3mE
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 31, 2024
Sri Lankan Net bowler Krishan gifted a silver bat to Virat Kohli.
The message on the bat-
" Hey Champ, I just want to see your 100th century in International cricket.I hope you must get it in future. So all the best to you..I hope you like the gift Best wishes to you my champ" pic.twitter.com/y3j7PP7DKD
— Gaurav (@Melbourne__82) September 11, 2023
Virat Kohli’s century milestones and form
Incidentally, Kohli’s first international century came against Sri Lanka in 2009 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Since then, he has scored at least a hundred in each calendar year except for 2020 and 2021, when he experienced a dip in form. It took him approx three years to move from his 70th to his 71st century, but since then, he has regained his form and momentum. In 2023 alone, he has added eight more centuries across formats, showcasing his resilience and determination to maintain high standards in his performance.
