Overview
- Vikas Kohli posted that some “cannot run their houses without taking Virat Kohli’s name,” a remark widely read as a response to Sanjay Manjrekar’s criticism of Virat’s Test retirement and preference for ODIs.
- Manjrekar recently said choosing ODIs disappointed him because it is the easiest format for a top-order batter, intensifying debate over Kohli’s red-ball exit.
- Robin Uthappa publicly urged Kohli to rescind his Test retirement, saying he would love to see the batter return to red-ball cricket.
- Kohli trained with India in Vadodara, looked in good touch alongside Rohit Sharma, and was filmed playfully mimicking Arshdeep Singh’s run-up after drawing large airport crowds on January 7.
- Kohli enters the series after a Player of the Series display vs South Africa (302 runs, two centuries) and Vijay Hazare knocks of 131 and 77 that made him the fastest to 16,000 List A runs; he could also reach 28,000 international runs and challenge more ODI marks against New Zealand beginning January 11.