New Delhi: During Day 1 of the 1st Test between India and England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the crowd echoed with chants of 'Kohli, Kohli' in a display of longing for Indian captain Virat Kohli, who is absent from the squad for personal reasons. Although Kohli had arrived in Hyderabad ahead of the series opener, he withdrew from the first two Tests, leaving fans eager for his presence on the field.
The video of fans passionately chanting 'Kohli, Kohli' circulated on social media platforms, capturing the sentiment of the crowd during the match. Shared by the Bharat Army on Twitter, the footage exemplifies the immense admiration and support for Kohli among cricket enthusiasts.
India is undoubtedly feeling the absence of Kohli's batting prowess in the initial Tests of the five-match series, given his exceptional form across formats. Kohli delivered a stellar performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, emerging as the highest run-scorer with 765 runs from 11 matches, setting a new record for the most runs in a single edition of the World Cup.
After a well-deserved break post the ODI World Cup, Kohli returned for the Test series against South Africa, finishing as India's leading run-getter with 201 runs in the two-match series. Despite missing the first T20I against Afghanistan due to personal reasons, Kohli participated in the subsequent two matches.
Even though Kohli was present in Hyderabad, he withdrew from the 1st Test against England, leaving a void in the Indian batting lineup. The Indian spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja showcased their dominance on Day 1, collectively taking six wickets to restrict England to 246 runs in their first innings. Ben Stokes played a crucial captain's knock, scoring 70 runs off 88 balls to contribute significantly to England's total.
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