Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India captain Rohit Sharma was the cynosure of all eyes today during the practice session of the team at the Ageas Bowl ahead of the first T20I against England on Thursday. Rohit travelled from Birmingham to train with the team and is available for the series opener.
He was ruled out of the 5th Test after contracting Covid-19. While he was with the Test team in Birmingham, he has had his first practice session at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday with the rest of the squad.
The practice session of the team was overseen by VVS Laxman who has been with the T20 squad since Ireland. Laxman was seen having a long discussion in the middle with Rohit. Later Rohit gave a pep talk to the team. Rahul Dravid has stayed back in Birmingham while Rohit, who did not play the fifth test against England due to Covid-19 travelled to the port city of Southampton. Laxman oversaw the proceedings in the two T20 warm-up games and will head back to India after the 1st T20.
Although it was Rohit Sharma’s first practice session with the T20 squad, it wasn’t his first session. After recovering from Covid, Rohit had practice sessions at the Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham.
On Wednesday, he looked quite confident while batting at the nets. He played a few cut shots, stepped down to play drives.