Virat Kohli touches down in Perth ahead of first Test in Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Optus Stadium

November 11

Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli touched down in Perth on Sunday evening ahead of Test teammates, two weeks out from the blockbuster first match of the Australian summer at Optus Stadium.

Kohli, 36, arrived in Australia before being whisked away at Perth Airport ahead of the first of a five-match series in the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy on November 22-26.

Indian teammates are on their way to Perth in two separate groups on Sunday and Monday.

The West Australian understands they will begin training at the WACA Ground from Tuesday ahead of the first Test, but the venue is on lockdown in a bid to keep the Indian camp strictly behind closed doors.

As he left India, Kohli was swarmed by fans asking for selfies at Mumbai Airport and lashed out at photographers taking pictures of his wife and children.

India scrapped a slated three-day match against India A at the WACA over injury concerns.

Kohli arrived in Australia under scrutiny following a poor performance in New Zealand’s 3-0 whitewash in the sub-continent.

Camera IconVirat Kohli is under pressure heading into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Credit: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

The former Test skipper, believed to be in the twilight of his illustrious career, scored only 93 runs across six innings. His average of 15.5 was his worst in a series of at least three Tests since the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kohli missed the majority of India’s last Test tour of Australia for the birth of his child, which the visitors won 2-1 following a famous victory in Brisbane.

India will face a new-look Australian side in the West Test, with Nathan McSweeney to open alongside Usman Khawaja at the top of the order, while Josh Inglis has been named in the squad as back-up gloveman.

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