Watch- Virat Kohli's 1st public appearance in India after Akaay's birth says all is not well in team India

Virat Kohli was seen exiting the Mumbai International Airport last night as he is all set to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp ahead of the Indian Premier League 2024. Kohli will be returning to action for the first time since January after almost a 3-month leave for the birth of his second child with Bollywood actress wife Anushka Sharma.

In a video shared on Viralbhayani’s official Instagram handle, Virat Kohli can be seen heading out from the Mumbai airport in his usual dapper look. He was being accompanied by airport security personnel on his way out and before he sat inside his luxurious Range Rover, Kohli took time to pose for the cameramen present at the airport late at night.

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Earlier this year in January, Virat Kohli was included in the Indian squad for their recently concluded 5-match Test series against England which the hosts won by 4-1. In his absence, the team management and skipper Rohit Sharma handed out a debut to the uncapped batter and Kohli’s RCB teammate Rajat Patidar in the 2nd Test at Vishakhapatnam.

Virat Kohli had informed the team management about his decision to opt out of the first 2 Tests initially which the BCCI respected and allowed him to take time off. The reason for his leave was not specified as the batting stalwart had asked to keep his privacy intact.

Then when the time came for the national selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, to announce the squad for the remaining 3 Tests, Kohli was not included as his leave was extended until the end of the series. That opened up the door for a few more debutants like Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and later on Devdutt Padikkal who earned his maiden cap in the 5th Test at Dharamshala.

Regardless, without him on the team, Rohit Sharma’s side, after losing the 1st Test in Hyderabad by 28 runs, prevailed against all odds as they went on to win back-to-back matches. India won the 2nd Test by 106 runs, the 3rd Test by 434 runs, the 4th Test by 5 wickets, and the Dharamshala Test by an innings and 64 runs.

Now after his paternal leave, Virat Kohli will be in IPL action straightaway when the Royal Challengers Bangalore take on reigning champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener. Kohli is going to be a marquee player for the South-Indian outfit and he will look to stage his return with a bang.

Last season, Kohli scored 639 runs from 14 matches including 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries at an average of 53.25. This particular season is going to be very important for him as he will look to get some positive momentum before he takes the flight to the USA and West Indies for the T20 World Cup in June.

RCB full squad for IPL 2024