Virat Kohli gets help from Pakistan in training for Sydney Test vs Australia

Virat Kohli was at his fierce, intense best in his preparation for the Sydney Test. The Indian skipper, who has hit over 250 runs with a century in Perth and a glorious 82 in Melbourne, is ensuring India maintain their advantage in the current series against Australia. India are aiming to become the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia, leading the four-match series 2-1 after securing wins in Adelaide and Melbourne by 31 runs and 137 runs recently. However, for the Indian team to maintain their advantage, Kohli got a little bit of help from Pakistan in Sydney. In order to prepare for the pace and bounce which could be on offer in Sydney, Kohli practiced against two tall Pakistan pacers in the nets.

Salman Irshad and Haris Rauf, two Pakistan pace bowlers who play for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, bowled to the Indian cricket team skipper who had an intense batting session. Afterwards, both players posed for photographs with Kohli, who has a massive following in the world due to his brilliant exploits as a batsman. Irshad has played just six Twenty20 games while Rauf has played just two games. Both those games came in the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy which was given official sanction by the International Cricket Council in June 2018. Lahore Qalandars won the final by defeating South Africa franchise Titans by 15 runs.

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Two fast bowlers of Lahore Qalandars, Salman Irshad and Haris Rauf done with a net practice session with Indiam Team. Salman Irshad has given some deliveries to Indian Captain Virat Kohli.@TheRealPCB @thePSLt20 @lahoreqalandars #Australia pic.twitter.com/awLug6bc2t

— chowdri Ali Hamza (@iamalihamxa) January 2, 2019

India has won two Tests in a Test series Down Under for the first time since 1977/78. They won the first Test of the series in Australia for the first time ever when they registered victory in the Adelaide Test by 31 runs. Although they lost the Perth Test by 146 runs, Kohli’s side roared back in style and broke a 37-year jinx in Melbourne to win the Boxing Day Test for the first time. The win not only ensured India did not lose the series, but they also retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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Kohli is the only Asian batsman to score hundreds in South Africa, England and Australia in a Test calendar year. He smashed 153 in Centurion, 149 and 103 in Edgbaston and Trent Bridge and blasted a brilliant century at the New Perth stadium, which was hosting its first Test match.