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Team India superstar Virat Kohli had a heartwarming exchange with former teammate Robin Uthappa after his nets session on the eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The series opener of the three-match affair will be played at Colombo on August 2.
The Men in Blue are coming off a 3-0 series whitewash against the Lankans in the T20Is, a format Kohli recently retired from after India's World Cup triumph. However, the 35-year-old was back sweating it out at the nets ahead of his first outing since the T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Uthappa is part of the broadcasting team for the entire India tour of Sri Lanka.
Kohli walked up to Uthappa after finishing his nets session and the duo exchanged pleasantries before the former walked out of the field.
Here is a video of the heartwarming moment:
Apart from Team India, Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa played together for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2009 and 2010. The franchise enjoyed two of their best seasons in that tenure, reaching the final in 2009 and semi-final in 2010.
The India-Sri Lanka T20Is will be Kohli's first series under newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Virat Kohli made his India debut in Sri Lanka in 2008
Sri Lanka hold a special place in Virat Kohli's cricketing career, with his debut coming during India's tour of the Island nation in 2008.
The star batter played his first game in Dambulla in the opener of the five-match ODI series and scored a 22-ball 12. However, that turned out to be one of his rare low scores against Sri Lanka as Kohli has sent them on a leather hunt over the years.
The former Indian captain is fifth all-time among leading run-scorers in India-Sri Lanka ODIs with 2,594 runs at an average of 63.26 and a strike rate of 93.91 in 53 games. Kohli is just over 500 runs behind No.1 on the list, Sachin Tendulkar.
The 35-year-old also boasts excellent numbers against the Asian neighbors in the other two formats. Kohli has tallied over 1,000 runs in 11 Tests against Sri Lanka at an incredible average of 67.81, including five centuries.
His numbers are even better in T20Is against Sri Lanka with an average of 67.80 and a strike rate of 138.36 in eight outings.
