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Virat Kohli Calls For Ravi Shastri's Right-Hand Man To Prepare For England ODIs

Anurag Dasgupta

Kohli begins preparations for England ODIs [Source: AFP] Kohli begins preparations for England ODIs [Source: AFP]

The Indian cricket side is currently playing a T20I series against England away from home, and once the 20-over fixtures are over, the focus will shift towards the ODIs as the two sides will lock horns in a riveting battle, starting on July 14. The ODIs will provide the perfect preparation for the Men in Blue to find the best possible combination for the 2027 World Cup.

The 50-over fixtures will also mark the return of Virat Kohli, who sustained an injury during the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans and subsequently missed the Afghanistan ODIs at home.

The hamstring injury that derailed Kohli's comeback

Kohli last played an ODI series against New Zealand before the T20 World Cup, and the Indian fans were excited for his comeback as the legendary batter was named in the ODI squad vs Afghanistan.

In the IPL 2026 final, Kohli fielded for the entirety of the 20 overs, and then stayed till the end to help RCB win their second IPL title. However, in the process, the RCB opener sustained a hamstring injury, and despite being in immense pain, the batter refused to walk back as he finished the game for the side.

Scans revealed that Kohli suffered from a rare Distal Semimembranosus Tendon Tear, and was ruled out of the Afghanistan games. This derailed his comeback as the veteran had to pass a fitness test to be included in the England ODIs.

Kohli practising with Ravi Shastri's right hand for comeback in ODIs

The ODIs are set to commence on July 14, and Kohli was recently given his NOC to participate in the series. The former Indian captain had little time to be match-fit for the crucial England ODIs, and to be at his absolute best, Kohli called on Ravi Shastri’s right-hand man and former India batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, for assistance.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Still At CoE, Will He Play IND vs ENG ODIs?

In a video that went viral, Kohli was seen practising with Bangar in Alibag ahead of the IND Vs ENG ODI series. Bangar was the India batting coach when Ravi Shastri was the head coach of the side, and Kohli was the team captain. He knows Kohli’s strengths and weaknesses, and the former player worked on those ahead of the riveting ODI matches.

Reports suggested that Sanjay Bangar focused on the technical aspect as he worked on Kohli's footwork and technique required to score runs in England.

Reason why Kohli picked Bangar for practice ahead of England ODIs

An avid reader of the game and one of the best tacticians, Bangar has previously worked with Kohli when the duo was a part of the Indian side. Kohli shares a good rapport with the 52-year-old cricketer, and this was one of the main reasons why the legendary batter decided to practice alongside Bangar.

Bangar closely worked with the Indian side from 2016 till the 2019 World Cup, and during that period, Kohli flourished as a batter and had his best seasons as the former captain was almost untouchable as he reached new heights.

During the period, Kohli scored 3596 runs, with an average of 66.59. Moreover, in ODIs, he scored 3401 runs, with an average of 94.47. In the T20Is, the 37-year-old registered 1151 runs, with a strike rate of 139.

Also Read: Dwayne Bravo To Akash Madhwal: List Of Players Who Have Played For Both MI And CSK