Virat Kohli was the only player who did not participate in India’s warm-up game for the T20 World Cup against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday. He arrived late Friday night and was rested after the 16-hour flight from Mumbai.
Although Kohli missed the match, a moment from the game grabbed fans’ attention on social media. During the game in New York, where India excelled in both batting and bowling, the former captain was seen casually showing off his six-pack abs. One user on X (formerly known as Twitter) commented, “Stop, it’s already 40 degrees,” as the video went viral.
Kohli was expected to be in the first group of Indian players traveling to New York after IPL 2024. However, he and all-rounder Hardik Pandya were notably absent on May 26, with Pandya reportedly on vacation at an undisclosed location. According to an Indian Express report last week, Kohli had extended his break after the IPL season, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru had a tough exit in the Eliminator, after getting permission from the BCCI.
As a result, Kohli missed all three practice sessions India held in New York before the match against Bangladesh. He joined the team on Friday and was present at the stadium during the warm-up game.
Even though he missed the match, Kohli heads into the World Cup after an impressive IPL season, where he scored 741 runs in 15 innings, winning the Orange Cap.
In Saturday’s game, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya shone with the bat, leading India to 182 for five in 20 overs. Pant scored 53 off 32 balls, and Hardik hit a 23-ball 40. Suryakumar Yadav also contributed with a quick 31 off 18 balls, including four sixes. The bowlers then delivered a strong performance, with Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube taking two wickets each, restricting Bangladesh to 122 for nine in 20 overs.