Virat Kohli Will Score Heavily This Year And He's Going To Start From Champions Trophy: Robin Uthappa

Virat Kohli will return to his run-scoring ways in the Champions Trophy and lead the team's batting this year along with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, reckons former India player Robin Uthappa. The 36-year-old Kohli's recent struggles in Test cricket have led to discussions about his career, but he has no plans to retire and aims to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. "Virat will score heavily this year and I think he's going to start doing that from here. I think Virat is there and thereabouts. He will be among runs very, very soon," Uthappa, who has played with Kohli for India and RCB, told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

"I mean the standard of runs that we are used to seeing Virat score. So, I think it's just a matter of time." he observed.

Kohli has been facing criticism for his form in Test cricket of late, and barring a hundred in the series opener in Perth, he has struggled to get going in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, mostly getting out to balls outside the off-stump.

Title contenders India begin their Champions Trophy campaign with a match against Bangladesh here on Thursday.

"I think (Mohammed) Shami will be raring to go. He's been out of action for a while and he's just come back into playing. Arshdeep (Singh) will be raring to go as well. He'll have some memories that he'll want to change here from the last time he played against Pakistan at this venue," Uthappa pointed out.

Arshdeep found himself at the receiving end of hate-filled tweets from a section of fans after Pakistan's narrow win over India in the Asia Cup Super Four match at this venue in 2022.

Asked about India's chances in the tournament, Uthappa sounded optimistic.

"Oh, very good. I think it's going to be a tournament