Virat Kohli rejoins Team India in South Africa ahead of 1st Test; Check out reason behind his sudden leave

Former India captain Virat Kohli has rejoined Team India in South Africa ahead of the first Test of the two-match series. The crucial series, part of the 2023-25 ​​World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, will kick off in Centurion on Tuesday, December 26. There were reports a day earlier that Kohli had flown back home due to a family emergency but will be back on time for the opening match. 

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However, according to an Indian Cricket Board official, the 35-year-old's sudden leave was for a trip to London, and he had informed the team management in advance. Notably, Kohli also missed the intra-squad practice matches.

“Virat Kohli wasn't going to play that game. The team management was aware of his plan and schedule, and it isn't something which happened overnight or due to a family emergency. Look at the player in question, it's Virat Kohli. He is very well planned when it comes to these things and his London trip was communicated and planned well in advance,” a senior board official was quoted by News18. 

The source added that Kohli had multiple training sessions before leaving the team camp on December 19 and will continue training after joining the team in Centurion. 

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“Kohli left India for South Africa on December 15. Had good 3-4 training sessions before he went to London on December 19. For the next few days, he was in London and has now linked up with the Test squad and will in all likelihood train in Centurion tomorrow."

Kohli aims to dominate South Africa 

Kohli has a remarkable record in Test Cricket while playing on the South African soil. The right-hander has amassed 719 runs at an impressive average of 51.35 with two centuries and three half-centuries. In the 2023 tour, he averaged 68, 47.66 in 2018, and 40.25 in 2022. As the two set to clash again, the ace batter aims to dominate the Proteas. 

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Kohli recently spoke about the importance of red-ball cricket. "Test Cricket for me is the foundation of the game. It’s history, It’s culture. It’s heritage. You come out on the other side and have 4 to 5 days, it’s a different feeling from anything else that you have experienced. As an individual, as a team, the job satisfaction of having played a long innings and winning your team a Test match is a special feeling”

“I am a traditionalist, so playing in whites, playing test cricket is everything. Really honoured to play more than 100 Tests for the country and pursue my dream of becoming a Test Cricketer”. Virat Kohli’s last test appearance was during the tour of West Indies where he scored a century," he added.