‘When his time comes…’: Brandon McCullum on Virat Kohli’s ‘legacy’ ahead of England ODI series | Cricket News

Virat Kohli India will take on the hosts at Edgbaston on Tuesday in what could be his last ODI tour of England. The match also marked an important personal milestone for the great batsman, who will be playing his 300th ODI for India.Ahead of the series opener, England head coach Brendan McCullum paid a glowing tribute to Kohli, saying he was one of cricket’s greatest ambassadors and his legacy will outlast his career.McCullum, who shared the Royal Challengers Bangalore dressing room with Kohli during the IPL, reflected on the Indian star’s relentless competitiveness and global impact.“I had the privilege of playing with him for a year at RCB. I shared the dressing room with him, got to know him and thoroughly enjoyed his company. He is a very competitive person who leaves no stone unturned on the court. He plays with all his heart and is a great cricketer,” McCullum said in a video shared by the ECB on X, ahead of the first ODI.“He inspired generations to love cricket. He was one of those athletes who transcended the game. He has become a true rock star, not just in cricket or India, but across the world and in different sports. When his life ends, his legacy will live on long after he played the sport,” he added. However, McCallum ended with a smile, adding: “I still hope he doesn’t make a run in this series! 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 ODI, Kohli returned to the India ODI 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 hundred, four fifties and a highest score of 107. Kohli is also about to celebrate another major milestone. He still needs 68 runs to overtake Rahul Dravid as India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs in England.

After T20I disappointment, India eyes fresh start

India enters the ODI series hoping to bounce back after losing 4-0 in the previous T20I series. With the return of senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the visitors will hope to get off to a good start in their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.The first ODI will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with the match scheduled to kick off at 3:30 pm IST (11:00 am local time).