India's Under-19 World Cup 2026 winning captain Ayush Mhatre met batting icon Virat Kohli at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on June 27, 2026. Mhatre took to social media to express his joy, describing it as an 'unforgettable conversation with a legend.'
Virat Kohli at BCCI CoE for Fitness Tests
Virat Kohli was at the facility to complete his fitness tests ahead of the ODI series against England, scheduled to begin on July 14 away from home. He had missed the previous home ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT). In that match, Kohli's unbeaten 75* guided RCB to their second consecutive IPL title.
Mhatre's Injury and IPL Stint
Mhatre's own IPL 2026 season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was cut short mid-season due to a hamstring injury. At the time of his exit, he was CSK's leading run-scorer with 201 runs in six innings at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 177.87, including two half-centuries and a best score of 73.
Mhatre's Domestic and U19 WC Performance
In List A cricket, Mhatre has amassed 458 runs in seven matches at an average of 65.42, with two centuries and a fifty. In 19 T20 matches, he has scored 766 runs at an average of 47.87 and a strike rate of 176.09, including two centuries and four half-centuries. The Mumbaikar has also played 13 first-class games, scoring 660 runs in 22 innings at an average of 30.00, with two centuries and two fifties. During the U19 World Cup, he accumulated 214 runs in seven matches at an average of 30.57, with three half-centuries, and also took seven wickets with his right-arm spin.
Kohli's Return to ODI Squad
Kohli has been named in the ODI squad for the England series, but his participation in the three ODIs is subject to passing the fitness tests. Given his history of rare injuries and quick recoveries, there is optimism among fans and chief selector Ajit Agarkar that he will be available. Kohli finished IPL 2026 as the fourth-highest run-getter and RCB's top scorer with 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84, including a century and five half-centuries, with a best score of 105*.
Kohli's ODI Legacy
The 37-year-old is regarded as one of the greatest ODI batters. He is the second-highest run-getter in the format with 14,797 runs in 299 innings at an average of 58.71, with 54 centuries (the most by any batter) and 77 half-centuries. His highest score is 183. Since retiring from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup win and from Tests in May 2025 before the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, Kohli has focused exclusively on ODIs.
Since last year, Kohli has scored 891 runs in 16 ODI matches at an average of 68.53 and a strike rate of 98.45, with four centuries and five half-centuries, and a best score of 135. He played a crucial role in India's ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2025. Since the Australia tour earlier this year, which marked his transition to an ODI-exclusive batter, he has amassed 616 runs in nine innings at an average of 88 and a strike rate of 106.39, including three centuries and three half-centuries. In his most recent ODI series against New Zealand earlier in 2026, he was India's top scorer with 240 runs in three matches at an average of 80.00, with a century and a half-century.
