The Indian cricket team touched down in Perth early on Thursday after a delayed journey from Delhi, ahead of their three-match ODI series against Australia starting October 19. Led by Shubman Gill, the squad featuring senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, arrived around 4 AM IST following a four-hour delay in Delhi and a rescheduled stopover in Singapore. Due to heavy security at the Perth airport, fans couldn’t get close to the players, who went straight to their hotel rooms after the long flight. Not long after touchdown, Kohli set social media abuzz with a cryptic post that read, “The only time you truly fail, is when you decide to give up.” The line quickly went viral, with supporters speculating about its meaning. Some viewed it as a message of motivation, others taking it as a hint that the veteran batter had set his sights on the 2027 ODI World Cup.Watch what Virat Kohli posted here Within hours, however, the buzz took an unexpected turn. Nearly two hours after his original post, Kohli followed it up with another one — this time, a promotional video for a fashion brand. This left many fans in an awkward spot, as what was initially seen as a personal statement turned out to be part of a brand partnership. Meanwhile, on the field, Kohli continued to be the centre of attention. Some Indian players took part in an optional training session later in the day, where both Kohli and Rohit Sharma were seen batting in the nets.
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The session gave fans a glimpse of the senior duo’s preparation ahead of the opening ODI in Perth, with the series set to continue in Adelaide and Sydney. For now, the social media chatter may have quietened down, but all eyes will again be on Kohli and this time, for what he does on the pitch.