Fun Times With Girlfriend Anushka Over, Virat Kohli to Pad up for India A

After a much-needed break from international cricket, during which he spent some quality time with girlfriend Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli has chosen to play for India A in a four-day 'Test' match against Australia A next week. (Amit Mishra Returns to Test Squad)

India's Test captain wants to quickly get back to serious cricket mode and Chennai's conditions should help him prepare for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka. Kohli will turn out for India A in the second four-day 'Test' versus an Australian side that has some quality international bowlers. (Kohli's Pakistani 'Lookalike' Sets Twitter Abuzz)

Former Test captain Sunil Gavaskar welcomed Kohli's decision to play for India A. "He needs time in the middle and if he can get a big score, it will be good for him ahead of the Sri Lanka series," Gavaskar told NDTV from London.

India A are being led by Cheteshwar Pujara, who has found a berth in the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tour, too. The first Test starts in Galle on August 12. The Test team will leave from Chennai for Colombo on August 3 and no preparatory camp has been planned.

A week in Lanka should be enough to prepare for the likes of Amit Mishra, who has returned to the Test team after four years.

Kohli was among several senior players who took a break from international cricket after the one-off Test against Bangladesh (June 10-18). He skipped the ODI and T20 series against Zimbabwe (July 10-19), leaving the captaincy rights to Ajinkya Rahane.

The 26-year-old Indian Test skipper spent time on an African safari and was then spotted with Anushka at Wimbledon alongside a host of celebrities, including Sachin Tendulkar and football star Thiery Henry..

Kohli has not played a Test match in Sri Lanka. With 10 centuries, he averages 45.73 from 34 Tests. Kohli's current international form has been lukewarm. He was bowled for 14 in the rain-hit one-off Test versus Bangladesh that ended in a draw. He has not scored a fifty in his last three ODIs.

India's last Test tour of Sri Lanka was in 2010, when a three-Test series ended 1-1. This will be Kohli's first full Test series as captain.