Star Indian batter and former captain Virat Kohli, who scored 70 runs in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand, was seen leaving the city on Sunday (October 20). The 35-year-old cricketer was seen leaving for Pune, which is scheduled to host the second Test of the ongoing three-match series from October 24 to 28.
In a video going viral on the internet, Kohli can be seen wearing a mask to hide his face and wearing sunglasses and a cap. He was also seen greeting airport staff as he patiently waited to board the flight.
Virat Kohli left for Mumbai from Bengaluru after the match pic.twitter.com/qEjzWtJEnC— (@wrognxvirat) October 20, 2024
Kohli came out to bat for No. 3 in both innings of the first Test against New Zealand, which India lost by 8 wickets on Sunday at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The right-handed batter failed to open his account in the first inning but hammered 70 runs in the second to help India post a total of 462 runs and set up a target of 107 runs for the Kiwis to chase down in the fourth inning of the match.
New Zealand defeated India in Pune to register its first Test win in India since November 1988. Rachin Ravindra scored a century for the Kiwis in the first inning and remained unbeaten on 39 runs in the second. For his super show with the bat, the left-handed batter won the Player of the Match award.
Apart from him, pacers Matt Henry and William O’Rourke made headlines in the first Test against India. Henry picked up a five-wicket haul in the first inning and dismissed three Indian batters in the second, whereas in his first red-ball match against India, O’Rourke accounted for the dismissal of seven (4+3) Indian batters.
After suffering a shocking defeat in the first Test, the Indian men’s cricket team will be desperate to come up with a big show in the second match and level the series. India has never lost a Test series against the Black Caps at home, and ahead of the much-awaited five-match Test tour of Australia, India can’t afford to lose another match against the Black Caps.
New Zealand missed the services of star batter and former captain Kane Williamson in the series opener due to a groin injury, and it remains to be seen if the 34-year-old batter will be available for selection in the second match at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
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