Indian megastar Virat Kohli emerges in Perth for first hit ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy series
After landing in Perth and spending two days under cover, the man billions of cricket fans have been waiting for has finally made his first appearance.
Virat Kohli, the Indian batting god adored by fans in his home country, trained with teammates for the first time as part of their top-secret camp at the WACA Ground.
Supporters who got wind of the session climbed trees and even brought their own ladders to just catch a glimpse of their hero ahead of what will almost certainly be his final Test series in Australia.
Amid the massive intrigue surrounding India’s arrival in Perth — with even Cricket Australia officials kept in the dark — Kohli had been nowhere to be seen just over a week out from the opening day of the West Test on November 22.
But the 36-year-old, who has brought his Bollywood-star wife Anushka Sharma and children Vamika and Akaay Down Under, was spotted outside the team’s hotel for the first time on Wednesday morning.
He was then the first man to pad up at India’s first official training session, however, the Indian megastar gave the net star opening bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj were bowling in a wide berth to start.
Kohli’s trademark forward stride and loud calls of “No” and “Yes” were out early as the 36-year-old acclimatised to the bouncy practice wickets.
He showed little trouble with the rising balls but did cop a couple to the gloves down legside before moving into the spin net.
Kohli comes into the series in lean form, with just one half-century in his last 10 Test match innings, but the man who can make or break a billion hearts in one shot showed nothing but joy as he battled close mate Ravi Ashwin to close out his first session in Perth.
Not all of India’s batters made a quick transition to the bounce.
While Rishabh Pant belted bowlers around, Sarfaraz Khan looked every bit the batter who hasn’t played outside of the subcontinent.
Camera IconJaspit Bumrah. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
He was caught on the crease fending shortballs and chopping balls outside his off stump onto the wickets.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were given the unenviable task of trying to keep out Bumrah and Siraj, who bowled at a good pace without hitting the straps.
Bumrah, in particular, enjoyed the bounce, dropping short to catch his teammates on the hop.
Camera IconMohammed Siraj bowls. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
22-year-old Jaiswal looked to adapt nicely and held deep conversations Gambhir after his early hits.
Shubman Gill was given a firm working over from the quicks and spinners but looked no worse for wear and enjoyed a laugh-filled chat with Pant – who called out “Gill, very good energy” – as the bowlers were given a chance to wield the willow.
Crafty offie, Ashwin, spent the whole session bowling while fellow spinner Ravi Jadeja only batted.
Camera IconShubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan muck around. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
After shooting from the top of a ladder and even sending a drone above the nets to capture images, The West was given special access by the Board for Cricket Control in India on Wednesday to Kohli’s first training session.
The Perth Test will launch the bumper five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between the two teams.
Construction workers at the redevelopment of the WACA Ground have now been banned from watching — let alone filming — the highly classified camp, after The West Australian revealed on Tuesday WA Cricket staff had also been heavily restricted as part of the blackout.
Camera IconVirat Kohli. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
Kohli, who has 271 million Instagram followers and is one half of India’s biggest celebrity couple, shot to fame as a prodigal cricketer who followed in the giant footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar.
The pair are followed religiously by fans around the world and Kohli went on to captain India and become one of the world’s “big four” batters this decade alongside Australia’s Steve Smith, England’s record-breaker Joe Root and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.
The power-packed right-hander’s cover-drive is smooth, but prickly interactions with Australian players, including with Nathan Lyon and Tim Paine on India’s most recent Test tour to Australia, have elevated his status as the most-watched cricketer on the planet.
Camera IconKL Rahul packs up. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
This time, the superstar has been at the centre of an international war of words over his form, with Indian coach Gautham Gambhir clapping back at claims by the legendary Ricky Ponting Kohli’s form has been lean across the past three seasons.
“What does Ricky Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? He should be talking about Australia,” he said.
India put in place similar security measures when they were based in Perth ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, but they did make two practice games against a WA invitational team open to the public on that tour.
Camera IconBatsmen Rishabh Pant. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
On that trip, Crown Perth stood down a contractor after an employee allegedly filmed themselves in Kohli’s hotel room.
The lockdown comes just days after Kohli vented his frustration with photographers in Mumbai, asking them not to take pictures of his children with his wife. Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma.
Video footage shows Kohli telling the paparazzi: “Udhar camera nahi karna (Don’t point your cameras there).”
Camera IconVirat Kohli. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
Kohli posted the video alongside a long statement expressing his outrage at the “fanaticism and absolute invasion of privacy”.
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