Watch: Virat Kohli Smashes Ravichandran Ashwin For A Big Six Ahead Of 2nd Test. Video Viral

01.01.2024 - 11:55 sports.ndtv.com

After a crushing loss against South Africa in the first Test, the Indian cricket team is gearing up for the second and final match that starts on Wednesday in Cape Town.

For India it's a do-or-die match if they are to draw the series. In the first Test, Dean Elgar hit 185 while the South African bowlers were on song too as India crumbled to a loss by innings and 32 runs.

The second Test gives them an opportunity to set the record straight. Ahead of second Test, the Indian team has been practicing in full tilt.

On Monday, Virat Kohli took part in an intense practice session. He faced the Indian bowlers as well as net bowlers. After a dry spell from 2020-2022, India's star batter Virat Kohli returned to his normal, run-scoring ways with a historic, record-breaking and consistent 2023 as a batter, breaking some massive batting records previously considered untouchable.

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The India vs England five-match Test series is set to kick off on January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. While England eye to repeat their 2012 heroics wherein they beat India 2-1 in a four-match series on latter's soil, the Rohit Sharma and Co. will aim to continue their 10-year-old unbeaten streak against the Three Lions in Test series at home. As always India's veteran batter Virat Kohli will be in the spotlight among other star players. Ahead of the series, England pacer Ollie Robinson opened up on his on-ground battles with Kohli and added that the India player has got a "big ego".

Watch: On Virat Kohli's 'Best Fielder Award', Don't Miss Rohit Sharma's Reaction

India's star player Virat Kohli is a live wire on the field, be it during his batting or his fielding. Kohli's role as a fielder was extremely crucial during the side's third and final T20I against Afghanistan in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Among some really good fielding efforts from Kohli, one that stood apart was he stopping a six at long-on. During Afghanistan's chase of 213 runs, Karim Janat hit Washington Sundar's delivery hard down the ground. For a moment it seemed that the ball will sail over Kohli's head but the star player jumped near the edge of the fence, grabbed the ball and threw it inside before falling over the ropes. The heroic effort saw Kohli eventually saving five runs for his team.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Chase History, On Verge Of Massive Records Ahead Of 3rd Afghanistan T20I

With the series already in the bag, the Indian side will be eager to perfect its freshly-baked T20I template as a team and hope that skipper Rohit Sharma's bat finally fires when they face Afghanistan in the third and last match of the rubber in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Rohit needs only 44 runs to surpass Virat Kohli and become the India skipper with most T20I runs. Rohit currently has 1527 runs to his name as India's T20I skipper. Additionally, another win as India's T20I skipper will see Rohit surpassing MS Dhoni to become the most successful India captain in the format. Currently both are tied at 41.

Man, Detained For Hugging Virat Kohli During 2nd T20I vs Afghanistan, Receives Hero's Welcome - Watch

A fan caught the headlines for all the wrong reasons after he breached the security barriers to hug Virat Kohli mid-match during the second T20I against Afghanistan in Indore on Sunday. Pictures of the same incident went viral on social media and the man was detained by the police for breaching security arrangements. After detaining him, cops took the young man, who entered the ground by climbing the fence of the spectators' gallery, to Tukoganj police station. News agency PTI had reported that the man was interrogated by the cops.

"Virat Kohli Will Lose...": Ex India Cricketer's Big Warning To Star Batter On T20I Return

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra expressed surprise at Virat Kohli's attacking approach during the second T20I between India and Afghanistan but also cautioned that if he starts playing at a much higher strike rate, he could lose his consistency, which has been one of his hallmarks. Fans in Indore and those watching through electronic devices had a reason to rejoice as 'King Kohli' made his return to the T20I format after more than a year following a crushing loss to England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal. Virat put aside all debates about his strike rate within a matter of a few bat swings, batting with a strike rate of well above 150 and often dancing down the pitch to smash his trademark shots. There were no signs of rust whatsoever as he entertained fans during his brief but electric stay at the crease.

How Virat Kohli's "Small Chats" Enabled Yashasvi Jaiswal's 34-ball 68 In 2nd T20I vs Afghanistan

Talented Yashasvi Jaiswal is clear about his role in the Indian batting line-up and said he was just trying to give his team a flying start with a good strike rate in the second T20I against Afghanistan. Jaiswal's strokeful 68 off 34 balls at the top of the order and Shivam Dube's 63 not out off 32 balls helped India register a six-wicket series-clinching win as the hosts easily chased down the target of 173 with 26 balls to spare. "I have been told to go and express myself and I was trying to do that," Jaiswal said at the post-match conference on Sunday night.