Sydney: Senior Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned to full-fledged training ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Australia, beginning Sunday. The two stalwarts, who last featured for India during the Champions Trophy in February–March, spent extended time in the nets during the team’s first practice session here.
Both former captains, now retired from Tests and T20 internationals, batted for nearly 30 minutes each in an intense net session. The Indian contingent reached Australia in two batches over Wednesday and Thursday for the white-ball tour, which includes three ODIs and five T20Is, starting October 29.
Rohit was spotted having a long conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir after his batting stint, while Kohli interacted with bowling coach Morne Morkel and shared a light moment with pacer Arshdeep Singh later in the evening.
This could potentially be the last Australian tour for the ODI legends, as their participation in the 2027 World Cup remains uncertain, depending on form and fitness. However, new skipper Shubman Gill has expressed confidence in the veterans, calling their experience invaluable for the team’s balance.
The Indian squad will continue its preparation with two more training sessions scheduled for Friday and Saturday before the opening clash.
