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Virat Kohli back in the frame as India prepare for ODI return

SportLocation Cricket Desk · 6 Sept 2026

Virat Kohli is back in the conversation around India's ODI plans, with press coverage pointing to his return against England in July and fresh attention on his place in the series. The video shows a right-handed batter in India colours working through a fluent set of strokes under lights, with the bat held high after contact.

Virat Kohli is back in the spotlight as India prepare for their ODI series against England in July, with press coverage framing the batter's return as one of the main talking points around the squad.

That wider context sits neatly alongside the on-field action in the video, where a right-handed batter in India blue works through a series of front-foot strokes, finishing one shot with the bat raised high and then standing upright with the bat held vertical beside the helmet.

The scene has the feel of a match environment rather than a casual net, with an umpire behind the pitch, fielders set around the wicket and night-match lighting over a prepared strip. It is the sort of setting that fits the attention Kohli continues to draw whenever India's white-ball plans come into view.

Sky Sports reported on 21 June 2026 that Kohli was set for an ODI return against England in July after injury, while The Guardian later described him as bringing stardust to the ODI series. Together, those reports explain why even a brief batting sequence involving India's No 18 carries extra interest.

For India, the story is not just about one player's presence but about the anticipation that follows him into a series. Kohli's return gives the England contest an added layer before a ball is bowled, and the build-up now turns to how he is used when the matches begin.

Sources & further reading

The Guardian — Catch him while you can: Virat Kohli brings stardust to ODI series

Sky Sports — Virat Kohli: India batter set for ODI return against England in July series after injury as visitors name squad

Sky Sports — IPL Q&A with Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jacob Bethell and more in T20 league, live on Sky Sports