After the abject showing that we saw from the Indian T20I team, fans would be thrilled to know that their favourite duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in Indian colours. And India’s senior stars are wasting no time before the ODI series against England. With the opening match at Edgbaston just around the corner, Rohit and Kohli were among the busiest players during India’s training sessions in Birmingham.
While there will be a sense of calmness with the return of Jasprit Bumrah as well, the sight of Rohit and Kohli putting in long hours at the nets will always draw massive attention. Both veterans know that every ODI from now on is part of a bigger journey leading towards the 2027 World Cup. Every innings will be criticised. So, that brings a different kind of pressure.
Rohit Sharma does match simulation to prepare
Rohit, who now plays only the 50-over format, had arrived in England ahead of most teammates to begin preparations. The former captain spent close to an hour batting on Sunday after starting his session with extensive fielding drills under the watchful eye of fielding coach T. Dilip, whose coaching is under massive uncertainty.
Interestingly, Rohit appeared determined to recreate different match situations. As per Times of India, he switched nets multiple times, changed ends after initially looking uncomfortable, and eventually moved into an open-net simulation where fielders were positioned around him. As the session progressed, the 39-year-old looked settled, repeatedly finding gaps through the off side and striking the ball with more confidence.
India squad for England ODI series
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar
Rohit returns to a happy hunting ground
England has traditionally been one of Rohit’s favourite destinations in ODI cricket.
The Indian opener has scored 1,428 runs in 27 matches in England at an outstanding average of 64.90, including seven centuries and seven fifties. Much of that success came during the 2019 World Cup, where he produced one of the greatest batting campaigns in tournament history with five hundreds.
His last ODI appearance in England came four years ago, when he managed scores of 76 not out, 0 and 17 in a bilateral series.
The upcoming three-match contest, therefore, marks return for the veteran, who was last seen in ODI action against Afghanistan earlier this year. In that series, he scored 16, 48 and 79. Although Yashasvi Jaiswal hit hundred in the last game, Rohit’s inclusion in the team is a no-brainer. He has done it for the country for almost two decades now, and want to continue till the ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Kohli faces pace before sharing advice
Meanwhile, Kohli, who has now shifted his residence in England, had his training as well.
Having focused heavily on spin bowling during Saturday’s session, Kohli spent much of Sunday taking on seamers. Jasprit Bumrah, Gurnoor Brar and a local club quick tested him with sharp deliveries in a high-intensity workout alongside Gill and KL Rahul.
As per reports, there were moments when Kohli looked challenged by the movement and bounce, but once the spinners entered the session, he appeared far more comfortable and fluent.
The former India captain also continued his habit of mentoring younger teammates. After training, Kohli spent time chatting with talented pacer Brar, offering advice and sharing observations from the session. Brar did so well in his debut series against Afghanistan. But Kohli wasn’t there as he missed the series due to a hamstring injury.
Now, the former Indian captain could see Grar excel in English conditions. Meanwhile, India will have one final practice day before the series begins on July 14. The players who were part of the T20I squad, including the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, will practise on Monday.
India vs England ODIs schedule
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | July 14 (Tuesday) | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:30 PM |
| 2nd ODI | July 16 (Thursday) | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 5:30 PM |
| 3rd ODI | July 19 (Sunday) | Lord’s, London | 3:30 PM |
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