Times of India. com in Birmingham: Before he was pepperedMumbai Cha Raja” chants outside the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, former India captain Rohit Sharma Sunday had a long time in the sun. As seven members of the ODI squad trained for the second day ahead of the series opener on July 14, it was the 39-year-old’s nearly hour-long batting session that stood out.Rohit started the two-hour session with fielding exercises before moving to the nets for batting activities. Aided by fielding coach T Dilip, Rohit spent considerable time getting ready for what would be long days in the sun.Ace ODI skipper Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul continue their own long stints batting in the nets, Rohit made his way to the sidelines and spoke to the rest of the Indian contingent, including Kuldeep Yadavwho was waiting for his turn to bat.
Rohit Sharma trains in Birmingham. (Photo courtesy: Tanuj Lakhina)
As the trio of batsmen departed, Rohit walked to occupy the net adjacent to Gurnoor Brar. After looking uncomfortable on the first row of deliveries, the former India captain decided to change the end.After looking in good touch after this move, Rohit asked the support staff for another change. With spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule involved in the practice session, India’s bowling specialists – Nuwan Senaviratne, Dayanand Garani and Raghavendra aka Raghu – worked in tandem with Edgbaston’s ground crew to unravel the net.Rohit spent the next half hour playing in an open net match simulation format. With the fielders placed to his right on the off side, Rohit cleared the gap on several occasions and even sent the security team running to retrieve a ball that had slipped under the outside fences.Looking much more satisfied with his display as things progressed, Rohit announced his batting session at quarter past four, three hours after the contingent arrived at Edgbaston.Kohli in the grooveEarlier, 37-year-old Virat Kohli dealt with some sharp and stinging deliveries from Jasprit BumrahBrar is a young seamer from a local club in Birmingham.
Virat Kohli trains ahead of the first ODI. (Photo courtesy: Tanuj Lakhina)
After devoting most of his opening batting session on Saturday to tackling spin, Kohli began Sunday’s session by taking on the seam bowlers while KL Rahul and Gill rotated responsibilities alongside him.In the high-intensity batting session, Kohli looked nervous against the seamers before moving on to the spinners and finding his composure.For the second consecutive day, after his practice session concluded, Kohli stayed at the match and shared his learnings. If it was Shubman Gill on Saturday, it was Brar’s turn on Sunday. The 26-year-old sartel asked for advice and the “King” was more than willing to impart wisdom.The squad, including members of the T20I squad who were in Southampton for the fifth T20I, will undergo their final practice session on Monday (July 13) before the series begins the next day. The three-match series will then move to Cardiff (July 16) and London (July 19).