Rohit Sharma undertakes match-simulation in nets ahead of ODI series opener

TimesofIndia. com in Birmingham: Before he was peppered with 'Mumbai Cha Raja' chants outside the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, former India captain Rohit Sharma had a lengthy stint in the sun on Sunday. As seven members of the ODI squad trained for the second day running ahead of the series opener on July 14, it was the 39-year-old's nearly an hour-long batting session that stood out.Rohit started the two-hour session with fielding drills before moving on to the nets for batting activity. Assisted by fielding coach T Dilip, Rohit spent a considerable time on getting sharp for what will be long days in the sun.As ODI skipper Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul continued their own long batting stints in the nets, Rohit made his way to the sidelines and chatted with rest of the Indian contingent, including Kuldeep Yadav, who was waiting for his turn to bat.When the trio of batters stepped away, Rohit walked across to occupy the net adjacent to Gurnoor Brar. After looking uncomfortable on the first string of deliveries, the ex-India skipper decided to switch ends.Having looked in good touch after this move, Rohit asked the support staff for another change. With spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule involved in the practice session, the Indian throwdown specialists -- Nuwan Senaviratne, Dayanand Garani and Raghavendra aka Raghu -- worked in tandem with the Edgbaston ground crew to untangle the net webbing.Rohit then spent the next half an hour playing in an open-net match simulation format. With fielders placed to his right on the off side, Rohit breached the gap on multiple instances and even sent the security team scurrying to fetch a ball that had crept underneath the outside fences.Looking much more satisfied with his showing as things progressed, Rohit called off his batting session at quarter-past-four, three hours after the contingent arrived at Edgbaston.Kohli in the grooveEarlier, 37-year-old Virat Kohli dealt with some sharp, stinging deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah, Brar and a young seamer from a local club in Birmingham.Having devoted most of his opening batting session on Saturday to tackling the spin, Kohli started Sunday's session by taking on the seam bowlers as KL Rahul and Gill rotated responsibilities alongside him.In the high-intensity batting session, Kohli looked jittery against the seamers before moving along to the spinners and finding his composed self.For the second day running, after his practice session concluded, Kohli stood on the sidelines and shared his learnings. If it was Shubman Gill on Saturday, it was the turn of Brar on Sunday. The 26-year-old seamer asked for tips and the 'King' was more than willing to pass on the wisdom.The team, including the members of the T20I squad who were in Southampton for the fifth T20I, will undergo its last practice session on Monday (July 13) before the series begins the next day. The three-match series will then move to Cardiff (July 16) and London (July 19).Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.