IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma simulates the match in the nets ahead of the ODI series

Rohit Sharma during a training session at Shivaji Park, Dadar, in Mumbai. (Photo File) Tech Word News. com in Birmingham: Before it was sprinkled’Bombay Cha Raja” chants former India captain Rohit Sharma outside the Edgbaston Cricket Ground for a long time in the sun. As the seven members of the ODI squad trained on the second day ahead of the series opener on July 14, it was the 39-year-old’s nearly hour-long batting that stood out.Rohit started the two-hour session with fielding practice before moving to the nets for batting. Assisted by coach T Dilip, Rohit spent considerable time perfecting himself for the long days in the sun.As ODI captain Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul continued their long batting in the nets, Rohit made his way to the touchline and chatted with the rest of the Indian contingent, including Kuldeep Yadav, who was waiting his turn.

Rohit Sharma trains in Birmingham. (Photo courtesy: Tanuj Lakhina)

As the trio of batsmen retired, Rohit walked over to man the net adjacent to Gurnoor Brar. After appearing uncomfortable with the first row of deliveries, the former Indian captain decided to change the ends.After that move, Rohit looked in good touch and asked the support staff for another change. With spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutul involved in training, India’s bowling specialists – Nuwan Senaviratne, Dayanand Garani and Raghavendra aka Raghu – worked in tandem with Edgbaston’s ground crew to untangle the net.Rohit then spent another half hour playing in the open net match simulation format. With the fielders positioned to his right on the off side, Rohit broke the gap at several instances and even sent the security team running for a ball that had crept under the outside fences.Rohit looked much happier with his performance as things unfolded and called off batting at a quarter to four, three hours after the contingent arrived at Edgbaston.Kohli in the grooveEarlier, the 37-year-old Virat Kohli dealt with some sharp, stinging deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah, Brar and the young seamer from the local club in Birmingham.

Virat Kohli trains ahead of the first ODI. (Photo courtesy: Tanuj Lakhina)

Kohli spent most of his opening batting on Saturday managing the spin, so he started Sunday’s session by taking on the bowlers while KL Rahul and Gill rotated duties alongside him.Batting at high intensity, Kohli looked nervous against the seamers before moving to the spinners and finding his calm self.For the second day in a row, after practice, Kohli stood on the sidelines and shared his insights. If it was Shubman Gill on Saturday, it was Brar’s turn on Sunday. The 26-year-old sailor asked for tips, and the “king” was more than willing to impart wisdom.The squad, including members of the T20I squad who were in Southampton for the fifth T20I, will have a final training session on Monday (July 13) before the series begins the next day. The three-match series then moves to Cardiff (July 16) and London (July 19).