India begins cricket World Cup with NO warm-up matches after Netherlands game called off as Virat Kohli returns to squad
INDIA’S cricketers will start the World Cup without a single warmup match after heavy showers washed out their fixture against the Netherlands.
Star player Virat Kohli made his return to the squad in time for the second practice match but the weather forced the game to be abandoned.
The men in blue travelled 3,400 km across the country to Thiruvananthapuram to play their last practice knock before the ICC World Cup begins tomorrow.
The Netherlands have also had two washouts - including their first warmup innings against Australia that ended without a result after rain ended the chase after the 14th over.
However, weather conditions across Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Dharamshala - the venues for the first three fixtures of the ICC World Cup 2023 - look optimistic.
India’s second practice knock was cancelled after star player Virat Kohli made his return to the squad.
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Virat, 34, went back to his home in Mumbai due to a “personal emergency”.
He took a direct flight from Guwahati shortly after the first warm-up game against England was cancelled on Saturday.
Although details about Virat’s emergency are still foggy, fans are speculating that he might soon become a father.
This comes after Hindustan Times reported that Virat’s wife is pregnant with their second child and they might soon deliver the good news.
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Anushka, who regularly travels with the star batsman and attends matches, has not been seen by his side for some time fuelling rumours.
Virat has not enjoyed the best phase of his cricketing career in the last three years.
However, fixtures in 2023 saw him return to his magical form.
Most recently, Kohli became the fifth-quickest batter to reach 13,000 runs in One Day International cricket while playing his knock against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023.
The ICC World Cup 2023 could be the perfect stage for Kohli to showcase his legendary comeback in International cricket.
The talismanic batter could go on to cement his palace in history by breaking a few more all-time records in the upcoming World Cup fixtures.
