India’s ODI Squad Begins Training
The Indian cricket team has commenced its preparations for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England. The first training session took place at Edgbaston on Saturday, with a focus on batting and bowling drills. Only seven members of the ODI squad were present in Birmingham for this initial session, as the remainder of the Indian squad was in Southampton for the final T20I against England.
During the training, Virat Kohli engaged in a nearly 30-minute discussion with ODI skipper Shubman Gill. Their conversation appeared to center on batting strategies for the series, with Kohli offering insights on shot selection, overall strategy, and methods to counter England’s bowling attack. Kohli demonstrated various strokes and discussed potential scoring options with Gill. The pair concluded their two-hour session after participating in fielding drills and net batting.
The batters involved in the session included Kohli, Gill, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. The bowling group was led by Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Gurnoor Brar. To simulate diverse match conditions, the team also utilised local net bowlers, including two spinners and a fast bowler.
Both Kohli and Rohit displayed fluency during their time in the nets. Kohli, in particular, showcased a range of strokes, confidently driving down the ground, executing paddle sweeps, and playing his characteristic flicks fine down the leg side. Bumrah and Brar provided an intense challenge, consistently testing the batters by hitting the deck hard and extracting bounce. Kuldeep also had an extended bowling spell, while the local spinners offered additional variety for the batters to prepare for English conditions.
The support staff, including fielding coach T Dilip, spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, and throwdown specialist Dayasagar, oversaw the training session, fine-tuning the team’s preparations.
Rohit Sharma’s Early Arrival and Preparation
Former India captain Rohit Sharma arrived in London early to prepare for the ODI series against England. He has been training at local cricket clubs in and around London, including Slough and Swyncombe. Sharma’s early arrival allowed him extra time to adjust to the conditions and reconnect with friends.
Sharma’s dedicated training regime included full-fledged sessions at Slough Cricket Club in Berkshire and Swyncombe Cricket Club, where he faced local bowlers as part of his preparations. His early arrival follows his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026, which had limited his playing time before the England tour. Now fully fit, the veteran opener is focused on the 50-over format, having retired from Tests and T20Is.
Sharma recently shared images on social media with the caption, ‘Old school vibes just hit different,’ which were well-received by fans. He will soon join the rest of India’s ODI squad in Birmingham.
Series Outlook
The ODI series offers India an opportunity to reset after a challenging run in the shortest format of the game. The team’s tour of England followed a 0-2 T20I series defeat in Ireland, and they were subsequently beaten 0-4 by England in the T20I series, with England securing a nine-wicket victory in the fourth T20I in Bristol to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The final T20I was lost by 56 runs.
The ODI series will commence at Edgbaston on July 14. The second match is scheduled for July 16 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, and the series will conclude at Lord’s on July 19.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
