BGT 2024-25: Virat Kohli First To Reach Australia, Squad to Follow

Virat Kohli, the star cricketer for India, arrives in Perth prior to the first Test match against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series. The 36-year-old arrived in Australia first among the enormous India team. After arrival at the Perth airport, he was whisked off, and he would soon be in practice mode for the crucial series. Two groups of the Indian squad are departing for the Border Gavaskar series.

Aside from those who are already in Australia for the India A games, Kohli was the first Indian cricket player to arrive in Perth. As India prepares for a pivotal series in which a spot in the World Test Championship is at stake, he will be eager to get back into the zone after struggling to get runs in the series against New Zealand at home. According to Gautam Gambhir, the team management is focused on securing the series in Australia rather than on the Rohit Sharma-led squad's requirement for a 4-0 victory to secure their place in the summit match.

Virat Kohli is ready to play:

The Australian newspaper on Virat Kohli's arrival in Australia for BGT. 👑

- King Kohli, The Face of Cricket. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/utWdPankte

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) November 11, 2024

According to reports, in preparation for the Perth Test, the Indian squad will start training at the WACA field on Tuesday. But in an effort to keep the Indian camp completely hidden, the location is under lockdown. Players like Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Muhammad Siraj were part of the first group and are currently travelling to Australia with the coaching staff. In the meantime, on November 11, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke at a pre-departure press conference in Mumbai.

Today, Monday, the following wave is scheduled to depart. The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, did not travel with the team, though, and may remain in India as his second child was born, according to information obtained by India Today. There is still uncertainty around Rohit's involvement in the first test, and Gambhir has announced that Jasprit Bumrah will captain the team in his place.

A source from TOI said, "Virat Kohli left before the two batches and has already reached Perth. One batch of players is already on their way and the second batch leaves today." According to rumours, the team will begin practising at WACA Ground on Tuesday, November 12. While it may be an optional exercise for the second batch, it is anticipated that the players who left in the first batch will join Kohli for the session.

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