Xtra Time Web Desk: Star batter Virat Kohli hogged the limelight during the optional practice session of Indian cricket team at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, October 26. Kohli was seen rolling his arms in the nets. He was seen bowling to Shubman Gill. With Hardik Pandya out with injury, it goes to be seen if Kohli can squeeze out a couple of overs.
As far as the practice session was concerned, the focus was on fielding. Fielding coach T Dilip was seen giving a pep-talk in the huddle at the start of practice session. The entire team took part in the fielding drills for the next 30 minutes which involved slip catching to high catches.
All the players turned up except Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Shami. The Indian players enjoyed a couple of days break after their 7-wicket win against New Zealand in Dharamshala on October 22. The Men in Blue are on a role having won all their first five matches in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Rohit and his boys are the only undefeated side in the tournament.
Experienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spent a long time in the nets both with the bat and ball. With the wicket here at the Ekana stadium favouring the slow bowlers, the veteran off-spinner’s inclusion in the playing XI cannot be ruled out.
Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill walked into the net first to bat along with Jasprit Bumrah. Rohit was seen focussing on hitting ground strokes. Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul were the next to bat in the nets. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowled to Virat in one of the nets. The star batter also spent considerable time taking throwdowns. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur entered the nets to bat once Kohli, Iyer and Rahul finished. Ashwin was seen batting alone for a long time towards the end when most of his teammates were back in the dressing room.
The Men in Blue will have another optional training session on Friday afternoon. It will be interesting whether Mohammed Shami will keep his place in the side after his stupendous bowling performance against New Zealand at Dharamshala.