Team India’s senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli batted together in the nets in Ranchi ahead of the side’s upcoming ODI series opener against South Africa. The match is set to be played at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, on Sunday, November 30.
In a video posted by one of Kohli’s fan clubs on social media, the two former captains were seen sweating it out in the nets. The clip showed Kohli batting, with Sharma standing at the non-striker’s end.
You can watch the video of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s practice below:
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were last seen in action during India’s three-match away ODI series against Australia last month. The Men in Blue lost the series 1-2.
However, Sharma’s form was a major positive for the visitors as he finished as the highest run-scorer of the series, amassing 202 runs across three innings. The star opener hit a stunning century in the third ODI, remaining unbeaten on 121 off 125 balls as India claimed a nine-wicket win.
Kohli had a tough start to the tour, registering back-to-back ducks in the first two games. He roared back to form with an unbeaten half-century in the final fixture, scoring 74* from 81 deliveries.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play under KL Rahul’s captaincy in IND vs SA 2025 ODI series
Team India will be without their ODI skipper Shubman Gill in the series. The right-handed batter sustained a neck injury while batting in the first Test of the recently concluded two-match series against South Africa.
Apart from Gill, ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has also been ruled out of the rubber. The 30-year-old is currently recovering from a rib cage injury he suffered while fielding during the ODI series in Australia.
With both the captain and the vice-captain unavailable, the selectors appointed wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul as the stand-in skipper. Top order batter Ruturaj Gaikwad returned to India’s 50-over side after two years.
While the first contest will take place in Ranchi, the second and third ODIs will be played at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur (December 3), and Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam (December 6), respectively.
Edited by Aditya Suketu Desai
