Star batsman Virat Kohli experienced a challenging practice session ahead of the upcoming one-day international series opener against New Zealand, displaying visible frustration after being tested by young fast bowler Auqib Nabi. As the Indian cricket team shifts its focus from the T20 format to the fifty-over games, the training sessions in the host country have provided some intense battles in the practice nets between experienced campaigners and hungry newcomers.
Nabi, who joined the squad as a replacement for the injured Prasidh Krishna following a strong performance for the India A side, caused considerable trouble for the senior batters. Along with fellow pacers Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar, the debutants put up an impressive display of fast bowling that kept the touring team’s frontline batting lineup completely on their toes during Sunday morning practice.
Net Session Struggles and Highlights
- Auqib Nabi repeatedly beat Virat Kohli’s outside edge with sharp lateral movement and dangerous away-swingers.
- The rookie fast bowler also struck Kohli on the pads and thigh pads with well-directed in-dippers during a testing spell.
- Gurnoor Brar utilized his height to extract extra bounce, while Anshul Kamboj maintained tight discipline around off-stump.
- Despite initial irritation from getting beaten multiple times, Kohli quickly recovered his composure to banter with Rohit Sharma.
Preparation for the 1st ODI
The rigorous workout serves as a crucial reality check for the visiting batting group as they adapt to local conditions and pitch behavior. Skipper Rohit Sharma adopted a cautious approach by focusing on defensive technique rather than forcing aggressive strokes, while other members of the squad like KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad also spent extended periods facing the lively pace attack. With only a few days remaining before the opening fixture, these demanding practice sessions are expected to fine-tune the team’s strategies and help players overcome early technical hurdles.
Keep browsing Sporting Avenue to get more interesting news from the world of sports. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the notifications instantly.
