Virat Kohli’s welcome to Kanpur was as expected: a rousing reception and a huge gathering of people. Kohli, along with Rishabh Pant and coach Gautam Gambhir, reached the city where the 2nd Test between India and Bangladesh will take place from Friday and as soon as he entered the hotel lobby, Kohli was surrounded by a sea of ​​people. Kohli had a tilak applied on his forehead and was welcomed with gifts, bouquets and a ‘rudraksh’. Basically, Kohli was treated the way gods are worshiped in India.

A true gem, Kohli never turns down fan requests – be it selfies or autographs – but at his occasion, the Indian batting superstar had to decline a handshake because the entire greeting was a bit too overwhelming. So when a hotel official (presumably) asked Kohli for a handshake, the former Indian captain, carrying a bag in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other, had to decline his request. “Sir, 2 hi haath hain (I only have two hands),” he said, but made up for it with a friendly “thank you.”

Watch the clip below:

Virat Kohli’s Test record in Kanpur

Kohli, who had a couple of poor scores – 6 and 17 – in the first Test in Chennai, is hoping for a big success. He has played just one Test at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium, against New Zealand in 2021, scoring 27 runs in two innings. The Chennai Test was Kohli’s first Test appearance in over eight months since India’s tour of South Africa, where he scored a scintillating knock of 76 in the lost Centurion Test

Kohli missed the five-match series against England at home in February and March due to personal reasons, which later turned out to be the birth of his second child Akaay. Kohli returned in time to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024 and scored over 740 runs that season. After that, the T20 World Cup was quiet but he saved his best for last and played a match-winning innings of 76 in the final as India beat South Africa by 7 runs to secure their second title.

With a busy season ahead, Kohli will, as always, play a key role in India’s journey to the World Test Championship final.