Prior of India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand, batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli appeared to be in fine form after a demanding training session in Vadodara on Friday.
A lengthy T20 season that includes a five-match series against the Kiwis, the T20 World Cup, and the Indian Premier League will come after the ODI series, which begins in Vadodara on Sunday.
After playing two games each in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Kohli and Rohit faced Indian pacers, spinners, and throwdown specialists for about an hour and a half.
After scoring 77 and 131 in the two games in the top domestic league, Kohli put up a fierce fight against both pacers and spinners. The batting superstar was further tested by some erratic bounce against the throwdown specialists in one of the nets.
However, after playing for their respective state teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday, bowler Mohammed Siraj and middle-order mainstay Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant did not participate in the three-hour training session.
The three will join the team late on Friday evening.
After missing the previous two Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa in late December owing to a toe injury, India captain Shubman Gill went through his training exercises and batted in the nets with ease.
On Thursday, the team practiced at Kotambi’s BCA Stadium, which will host its inaugural men’s international match.
