Teams arrange practice matches for players to become accustomed to the atmosphere. These matches are often held during the away series, when the visiting side needs some time to adjust to the climate and understand the nature of the wicket. But Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket, thinks differently; he never likes to bat in a practice match.

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun recently revealed why Kohli preferred to bat in nets rather than in practice matches. The right-handed batter is now labeled as the brand ambassador of modern-era Test matches, always in search of intensity. Without the intensity, the Delhi-born batter barely feels the heat against the bowlers during practice matches.

According to Arun, as the practice matches seemed dull for Virat, he did not like to bat on these occasions. But to prepare himself, he chose the toughest pitch of the ground and asked someone to bowl from 16 yards or throw downs from 16 yards. He always wanted to push himself for new endeavors.

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Virat preferred a tougher way to practice

According to the former India bowling coach, "I have spent some of my best moments as India’s bowling coach with Virat Kohli as captain. He never liked practice matches. He always felt the intensity was somehow missing and never really enjoyed practice games. Instead, he would want to spend more time at the nets and would always choose the spiciest wicket and get bowlers to bowl at him from 16 yards — or take throw-downs from 16 yards. The fact is — he always needed a challenge. That’s what got him going." 

Virat has now retired from T20Is and Tests and is only open to playing for One-Day International cricket. India is scheduled to play against Bangladesh in an away series in August 2025, though the contest is now looking uncertain due to tensions at the border. After that, Team India will fly to Australia for a three-ODI series.