'Neck in January. Knee in February': Injury-prone start for Virat Kohli in 2025 as he struggles to find form

Virat Kohli’s 2025 campaign has gotten off to a rocky start, with not just a dip in form but also unexpected fitness concerns. The Indian batting maestro, known for his supreme fitness and rarely missing games due to injuries, has found himself dealing with multiple setbacks in the early part of the year. The 37-year-old has been ruled out of the first ODI match against England due to a "knee problem".

Kohli’s first injury concern emerged during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in January, where he reportedly suffered a neck sprain. The injury was serious enough for him to take an injection for relief, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming fixtures.

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Despite expectations that he would turn up for Delhi’s Ranji Trophy clash against Saurashtra, Kohli skipped the match due to the lingering effects of the injury. He played in Delhi's next game against Railways but failed to perform.

Now, just as Indian cricket gears up for a crucial white-ball series against England ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Kohli has suffered another blow. He has been ruled out of the first ODI due to a right knee problem. This development has sparked further concerns over his fitness and match readiness, especially with the marquee ICC event looming later this month.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra took to social media to address Kohli’s recent struggles, pointing out how uncharacteristic it is for the former captain to miss games due to fitness issues. Chopra expressed his hope that Kohli will recover in time to feature in the second ODI in Cuttack, a match that could be crucial for him to regain form before the Champions Trophy.

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Neck in January.
Knee in February.
Not often you see Kohli missing any competitive cricket because of fitness issues. But here we are.
Hopefully, he’ll be fit for Cuttack 🙌 #IndvEng

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 6, 2025

Kohli’s road to recovery will be closely monitored by the Indian team management with a focus on building a fully fit squad for the Champions Trophy. India will be eager for him to shake off his fitness woes and rediscover his rhythm in the middle. If Kohli can overcome these hurdles, he remains India’s biggest asset for the upcoming ICC event, but for now, his injury-prone start to 2025 has raised significant concerns.