THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian cricket’s much-loved batting duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were back together in the India nets on Thursday as the team stepped up preparations for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies.
The reunion took place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, giving fans an early glimpse of the two veteran batters ahead of Sunday’s opening ODI.
Rohit and Kohli last played together for India during the ODI tour of England in July. Their return to the nets after more than two months has generated considerable excitement among Indian cricket fans, particularly with both players continuing their ODI careers as India look ahead to the 2027 World Cup.
Kohli Looks Sharp in the Nets
Virat Kohli looked in good touch during the training session, taking on the bowlers and producing several trademark strokes.
He was seen stepping out against Kuldeep Yadav and hitting the spinner over mid-wicket before producing another powerful straight-driven six off Naman Dhir. The session offered encouraging signs ahead of the series opener.
Rohit Sharma batted in the second group after a brief rain interruption. The former India captain worked on his strokeplay and asked Prasidh Krishna to bowl short deliveries, an indication that he was keen to prepare for the pace and bounce he could encounter during the series.
Gill to Lead India
While Rohit and Kohli remain the biggest attractions, Shubman Gill will lead India in the ODI series, with KL Rahul serving as vice-captain.
The squad also includes Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal and other promising players.
The return of Rohit and Kohli adds considerable experience to a squad that is also looking to develop its next generation of ODI stars. Their presence will be particularly significant as India begin building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India vs West Indies ODI Series
The first ODI between India and West Indies will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27.
The second ODI is scheduled for September 30 in Guwahati, followed by the third and final match on October 3 in New Chandigarh.
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back together in the nets, anticipation around the opening match has reached another level. For Kerala’s cricket fans, the prospect of watching the two Indian batting greats together in Thiruvananthapuram makes the series opener particularly special.
