‘When his time is up…’: Brendon McCullum’s ‘legacy’ on Virat Kohli ahead of England ODI series | Cricket news

Virat Kohli is set to begin what could be his final ODI tour of England as India take on the hosts in the first ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday. The match also marks a significant personal milestone for the big batsman, who is set to play his 300th ODI for India.Ahead of the series opener, England head coach Brendon McCullum paid glowing tribute to Kohli, describing him as one of cricket’s greatest ambassadors whose legacy will outlast his playing career.McCullum, who shared the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room with Kohli during the IPL, reflected on the Indian star’s relentless competitiveness and global influence.“I had the privilege of playing with him for a year at RCB. I got to share the dressing room with him, get to know him and thoroughly enjoy his company. He is a very competitive person and leaves nothing out on the field. He plays with all his heart and is an amazing cricketer,” McCullum said in a video shared by ECB on Xu, ahead of the first ODI.“He has inspired generations of people to love cricket. He is one of those players who transcends the sport. He has become a real rock star, not just in cricket or India, but across the world and in different sports. When his time is up, his legacy will live on long after he played the game,” he added. McCullum, however, finished with a smile, adding: “I wish there were no runs in this series though! But we wish him all the best. He’s a fierce competitor and an absolute champion.”

Kohli returns to his favorite format

After missing the Afghanistan ODIs, Kohli returns to India’s ODIs for the three-match series against England. The 37-year-old has an impressive record in England, scoring 581 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 38.73, including one century and four fifties, with a top score of 107. Kohli is also on the verge of another big milestone. He needs 68 more runs to overtake Rahul Dravid to become India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs in England.

Fresh start for India after T20I disappointment

India head into the ODI series looking to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat in the previous T20I series. With the return of senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the visitors will be hoping to make a strong start to their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.The first ODI will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham and the match is scheduled to start at 15:30 IST (11:00 local time).