Team India is preparing for their second and final warm-up game for the 2023 ODI World Cup. They will face the Netherlands at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. However, there’s a possibility that former India captain Virat Kohli may not be available for this match.
According to Cricbuzz, Team India traveled to Thiruvananthapuram from Guwahati on a special aircraft, but Kohli was not with them. He requested leave from the team management due to a personal emergency and flew back to Mumbai from Guwahati. This decision comes amidst reports of Bollywood star Anushka Sharma’s second pregnancy, and Kohli flew back to Mumbai citing personal reasons.
While there have been reports of the couple expecting their second child, there has been no official confirmation from their side. Â Anushka Sharma was recently seen by photographers, but she declined to have her photo taken.
A source from Indian Cricket Board confirmed that Kohli would rejoin the team in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
As for the weather, it doesn’t look promising for India’s second warm-up match. The forecast for Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday predicts cloudy skies with a high chance of showers and thunderstorms. This could potentially affect the game. So far, three warm-up matches have been affected by rain, including one in Thiruvananthapuram.
Despite the weather concerns, Team India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, sees these warm-up games as mere formalities. They have had a busy schedule, winning the Asia Cup and defeating Australia in a three-match series recently.
India’s World Cup campaign will begin on October 8 when they face Australia in Chennai.
