ACE India batter Virat Kohli on Monday (2) rushed back to his residence in Mumbai from Guwahati in the north-eastern state of Assam to reportedly attend a 'personal emergency' while the rest of the India squad reached Thiruvananthapuram in the southern state of Kerala for the second warm-up game against the Netherlands on Tuesday (3).
India were in Guwahati to play England in their first warm-up game on Saturday (30) but play was called off without a ball being bowled due to rain.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India did not confirm whether the 34-year-old batter would return to the squad for the Netherlands game, one report said that he would join his teammates on time.
It was not known, however, what the personal emergency was. Reports have been rife that Kohli and his actor producer wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their second child. Their daughter Vamika is two years old.
"A source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed that he went to Mumbai for personal reasons. Virat will rejoin the team soon," Cricbuzz quoted a source as saying.
Kohli, who scored his 47th one-day international (ODI) century last month against Pakistan in Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, is a key member of the India squad looking to win its third World Cup crown. He played one match against Australia in the recent ODI series at home in which he scored a half-century. While the Netherlands are not among the top sides in the world, Kohli would ideally like to hit some runs before India launch their World Cup campaign against Australia in Chennai on October 8.
Kohli is expected to eclipse the record of scoring the most number of ODI centuries (49) by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar soon and the fans would be eager to see him script the record during this World Cup.
Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Getty Images
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi cries during the trophy ceremony at the end of the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026.Getty Images
Shakira performs during the Topps Final Halftime Show the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Getty Images
Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Manhattan skyline, including the Empire State Building, as seen from Brooklyn Bridge Park on July 17, 2026 in New York City. New York City has been under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. Getty Images