Team India have begun their preparations for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies with their first practice session in Trivandrum, Kerala. With the opening ODI scheduled to take place at the Greenfield
International Stadium, the Indian players were seen putting in a strong shift as they fine-tuned their skills ahead of the series opener.
Unlike an optional training session, the practice was compulsory for the entire squad, with all the players making their way to the ground. The session also provided an interesting glimpse into India’s possible batting combinations for the first ODI.
Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad spend time at the nets
Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad were seen batting together during the practice session, while Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal also trained together. Kohli, Gill and Gaikwad, in particular, spent a considerable amount of time in the nets as they worked on their batting ahead of the series.
The combinations seen during the session could offer some clues about India’s plans for the opening ODI. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s extended batting time was particularly noteworthy, considering the competition for places in India’s middle order.
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Rohit Sharma has a brief batting session
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma did not spend a significant amount of time batting during the session. The veteran opener arrived towards the end of the practice and faced a few deliveries alongside all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Rohit’s relatively short batting stint stood out, although it does not necessarily indicate anything definitive about his role or workload for the first ODI.
Based on the combinations seen during the practice session, India could potentially open with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, followed by Virat Kohli at No. 3. Ruturaj Gaikwad appears to be in contention for the No. 4 position, with KL Rahul potentially occupying No. 5.
