Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to India’s ODI lineup on Thursday, participating in the team’s first practice session ahead of the three-match series against the West Indies. Their inclusion is expected to bolster the squad’s experience and performance as they prepare for the upcoming matches.
India will begin the series against West Indies at the same venue on Sunday, September 27, with the contest scheduled to start at 2:00 PM IST. The squad’s scheduled practice window ran from approximately 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM IST as India used the session to settle into the conditions ahead of the opening game. The return of the experienced pair is among the major talking points of a series that forms part of India’s preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The first ODI will take place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27. The second match is scheduled for September 30 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, also known as ACA Stadium, in Guwahati. The final ODI will be played on October 3 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. All three games begin at 2:00 PM IST. The five match T20I series will follow from October 6 in Lucknow and conclude on October 17 in Bengaluru. For Rohit and Kohli, Sunday’s opener represents the next step in their continuing ODI careers, while Gill’s side gets another opportunity to develop its combination ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
He stepped out to hit Kuldeep Yadav over mid wicket before following it up with a straight driven six against Naman Dhir, according to the training report. The reunion at the Greenfield International Stadium comes with both players returning to international action after a break of more than two months. Current fixture listings confirm the opening ODI and the subsequent games in Guwahati and New Chandigarh. Kohli appeared particularly busy during his net session, producing several of the shots that have become familiar throughout his ODI career. Rohit trained in the second group after rain briefly interrupted proceedings. The former India captain also asked Prasidh Krishna to bowl short, giving an indication of the type of pace and conditions he was preparing to face against the West Indies. Both Rohit and Kohli had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram by Thursday, joining ODI captain Shubman Gill and the rest of the squad.
