Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma looked fully set for the task as they underwent a demanding clean session ahead of the second ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Wednesday. The senior pair, whose future roles have been the subject of much debate in recent days, showed no signs of distraction as they trained with familiar intensity, with India firmly focused on sealing the series.
With India securing back-to-back ODI wins against Australia and South Africa, both Kohli and Rohit approached the session with a single-minded focus. Kohli looked particularly sharp under the lights, taking on bowling specialists Raghu and Nuwan Seneviratne in the long session. He controlled most of what came his way and bowled with authority, although Raghu’s raw pace slipped past his bat at times. The toss-up between bat and ball caught the attention of those present and underlined Kohli’s readiness for a crucial outing.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir watched closely from a central position between the two nets, watching the minute details in the seniors’ preparations. As Kohli packed up, he shouldered both bats and walked past Gambhir without a word, a brief moment that held significance given the ongoing examination of their dynamic. Rohit, who ended the session shortly afterwards, stopped for a brief interaction with the coach before heading inside.
The spotlight naturally rested on the two stalwarts, but the rest of the team trained with equal intensity. With India leading the three-match series 1-0 after Sunday’s win in Ranchi, the group looked set to close the door soon. The adjacent nets were buzzing at a high tempo as the batsmen prepared for what is expected to be another tough match at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, where the black pitch has historically helped the batsmen.
Yashasvi Jaiswal produced some of the cleanest hitting of the evening, sending several balls soaring over the leg boundary. The young spinner later bowled a few deliveries to Rishabh Pant, who was the last to complete his stint in the nets, capping off a spirited and competitive session.
Harshit Rana said the presence of Indian superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have helped him a lot in his development. “It’s a big thing for me and obviously for the whole team because if you have such experienced players staying with you on the field and in the dressing room, then the team environment is very good. (Even when you’re in the dressing room, it’s a happy environment for the whole team.)
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
December 2, 2025
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