Virat Kohli, assured of a spot in the playing eleven in the third Test commencing here on Tuesday, was part of the first batch of batsmen during the Indian team's nets session at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Yuvraj Singh's omission from the squad has paved the way for Kohli's comeback. Kohli last played Tests during the West Indies tour in July and he then struggled, scoring 76 from three games. In the current series, he has so far come in as the twelfth man at Delhi and Kolkata.
“I did not do well in the West Indies and I am now looking forward to playing well in the coming Test,” Kohli said during the CEAT awards function on Saturday night.
Usual self
Coach Duncan Fletcher had a chat with Kohli and then stood behind the 23-year-old and watched the youngster's batting.
In the adjacent net, Virender Sehwag, who recently completed a decade in Tests, was his usual ebullient self. Kohli, one of the brightest stars among India's generation-next batsmen, has an opportunity to secure the number six slot in the Indian line-up.
Kohli, Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and the rest had their batting stints while Zaheer Khan caused a flutter among photographers as he jogged close to the ropes. Zaheer, who has recovered from an ankle surgery, is expected to play a few Ranji Trophy games before staking claim to a berth in the Indian squad for the forthcoming tour of Australia.
He also bowled in the nets, primarily to Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman. Zaheer bowled at his usual pace.
Meanwhile, Evan Speechly, the new physio of the Indian team, joined the squad and interacted with the players.
