Rohit Sharma Sits Out Practice, Kohli Preps for NZ Match

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma opted out of the nets during a practice session on Wednesday, ahead of their Champions Trophy 2025 match against New Zealand. Following their victory over Pakistan, the Indian squad practiced for the first time at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy. Although all players warmed up by playing football and running laps, Rohit abstained from any strenuous physical activity. He gently jogged under the watchful eye of Strength and Conditioning coach Soham Desai but appeared to not move freely. Rohit sustained a hamstring injury during the match against Pakistan, yet reassured fans during the post-match presentation that there was no serious concern. The report indicated that Rohit did not face any throwdowns, engaging only in shadow batting while conversing with the head coach and the rest of the coaching staff. On the other hand, Virat Kohli dedicated significant time to facing spinners during practice. The bowling coach rejoined the team after dealing with a personal emergency and supervised Kohli as he faced bowlers on the net. Kohli practiced against various bowlers and spent over half an hour working with the net bowlers in preparation for the match against New Zealand. Pace bowler Mohammed Shami showcased his skills by bowling at full intensity, swinging the ball in both directions and challenging Kohli twice on his pads. Additionally, and Arshdeep Singh brought determination and energy to the session. Under the guidance of the coaching team led by Morkel, the bowlers demonstrated sharpness and readiness to tackle New Zealand's team. Morkel, who had left the Indian camp briefly before their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh on February 20, was seen in a deep discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir as players completed their warm-up drills at the ICC Academy.