BGT 2024-25: Virat Kohli first to reach Australia ahead of Perth Test

Star India batter Virat Kohli has reached Perth ahead of the first Test against Australia on November 22. The 36-year-old left India on Saturday evening with his family and reached the country on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Indian players will be leaving in batches, as the likes of Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep among others boarded the flight on November 10, while other cricketers like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin among other coaching staff will travel on Monday, November 11.

Kohli was the first Indian cricketer to reach Perth, apart from those who are already in Australia for the India A games. He was struggling to find runs in the series against New Zealand at home and will be looking to get back into the zone as India gear up for a crucial series as a place in the World Test Championship in on the line. The Rohit Sharma-led side need a 4-0 win to guarantee their spot in the summit clash but as per Gautam Gambhir, that is not what the team management is concentrating on as the goal is to seal the series in Down Under.

"Virat Kohli left before the two batches and has already reached Perth. One batch of players is already on their way and the second batch leaves today," a source was quoted as saying by TOI.

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As per reports, the team will be starting their practice session on Tuesday, November 12 at WACA Ground. The players that left in the first batch is expected to attend the session along with Kohli, while it might be an optional training for the second batch.