More than two years, over 700 days and a total of 56 innings. That's how long it has been since Virat Kohli scored an international cricket. It was back on November 23 of 2019 when Kohli scored the last of his 70 international centuries. Since then, the India captain has been part of four full-fledged Test series – both home and overseas – but a hundred has eluded Kohli.
However, with a little bit of responsibility off his shoulders – Kohli stepped down as India's T20I captain after the World Cup – the batter in him is all geared up for his return to international cricket. Kohli was rested for the three T20Is and the Kanpur Test against New Zealand, but the skipper is back, hoping to get back among runs at a venue he has a solid record at.
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Former India batter VVS Laxman cannot wait to see Kohli back in action, and expects the captain to immediately create an impact. At the Wankhede Stadium, Kohli has played four Tests, scoring 433 runs in six innings at an healthy average of 72.16 including one ton and three fifties, and Laxman feels there is no reason why Kohli cannot get back in the groove right away.
"I'm really looking forward to the return of Virat Kohli because we know that he missed the first Test and the T20 series. It has been some time since Virat Kohli got the match at the three-figure mark and we know what a quality player he is. So, I am expecting him to straight away come, and create an impact because we know whenever he plays to his potential, he poses a lot of threat to any bowling unit. So, the player to watch out for me will be Virat Kohli," Laxman said on Follow the Blues Show on Star Sports.
{{/usCountry}}"I'm really looking forward to the return of Virat Kohli because we know that he missed the first Test and the T20 series. It has been some time since Virat Kohli got the match at the three-figure mark and we know what a quality player he is. So, I am expecting him to straight away come, and create an impact because we know whenever he plays to his potential, he poses a lot of threat to any bowling unit. So, the player to watch out for me will be Virat Kohli," Laxman said on Follow the Blues Show on Star Sports.
{{/usCountry}}In fact, as Test cricket returns to Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the last time India played a Test there, Kohli scored an unbeaten 235 against England in 2016. However, since 2020, the India captain has averaged less than 30 in Test matches. Out of his 830 runs scored against New Zealand, Kohli, since 2020, has scored just 95 runs in six innings.