Mumbai: Virat Kohli has made significant progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury and is on track to return to the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series in England, TOI has learnt.
“Kohli has begun the rehabilitation process and his injury is recovering quickly. He is expected to report to the BCCI Center of Excellence for his fitness assessment and clearance soon.” “If his recovery goes as planned, Kohli is expected to return to the team for the upcoming England series,” a source said.
BCCI determinants To choose the team soon
India’s ODI squad for the tour of England is scheduled to be selected later this week.“The selection committee meeting to select the Indian ODI team for the tour of England will be held in the next three to four days,” BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told TOI on Thursday.The three-match ODI series between India and England will be played from July 14-19, with matches scheduled for Birmingham, Cardiff and Lord’s.The 37-year-old Kohli has missed the ongoing home ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal replacing him.The star batsman was consulting renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr Dinshu Pardiwala, who is based at Kokilaben Dhrubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai and works as a consultant orthopedic surgeon at the BCCI.
A hamstring injury ruled Kohli out of the Afghanistan series
Kohli suffered a hamstring injury during an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls in the IPL final, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru chase down 156 against Gujarat Titans and clinch their second successive IPL title.On Tuesday, several photos appeared online showing Kohli spending some time in London, where he currently lives, with English player Gordon Cox, his teammate at Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The meeting came hours before the 25-year-old was named in England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand, which begins at The Oval on Wednesday.
Agarkar had hinted at England’s return
While announcing India’s squads for the series against Afghanistan in Mumbai on June 6, chief selector Ajit Agarkar indicated that Kohli could be fit for the England series, but added that there was no “clear timetable” from the doctor regarding his return.“With Virat, it’s been less than a week since he got injured in the IPL final. We don’t know the schedules yet. But it looks like he might be fit for the one-day England series.”
It’s not a final answer, so don’t hold me to it. “I haven’t had a clear timeline from the doctor yet,” Agarkar said.After retiring from T20Is and Tests, Kohli now plays only ODIs for India. His previous appearance came in the home series against New Zealand in January, where he top-scored for India with 240 runs at an average of 80 and a strike rate of 105.26.
