Rohit Sharma Shows Strong Form in Optional Training Session Ahead of ODI Series
Rohit Sharma trained at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday, showing good form with flicks, pulls, cuts, and drives during India's optional practice session ahead of the first ODI against Afghanistan on June 13. Rohit had recently received a fitness clearance from India's Centre of Excellence, while fellow returnee Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the series with a leg strain. The session signals Rohit's readiness to return to international cricket, with competition for batting slots intensifying among Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and others.
Rohit Sharma, 39, was among the first players off the team bus at Mohali's IS Bindra Stadium and quickly joined India's optional training session, starting with light running before moving to centre-wicket practice. He appeared rusty early on — notably getting hit on the pads by Nitish Kumar Reddy — but grew increasingly fluent as the session progressed, facing pacers Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Prince Sharma before moving to the spinner nets. New T20I captain Shreyas Iyer also trained and found his rhythm after a slow start, while Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal impressed in the adjacent nets with aggressive strokeplay. Notably, several players who featured in India's innings-and-300-run Test victory over Afghanistan — including captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, and Washington Sundar — skipped the optional session, as did head coach Gautam Gambhir. With Pandya injured, Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to serve as India's primary seam-bowling allrounder, while Harsh Dubey could make his white-ball debut during the series. Afghanistan also trained at the venue, with Mohammad Saleem — who took a six-wicket haul in the Test — bowling alongside Azmatullah Omarzai, though Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi were absent.
What's missing
Neither source clarifies the exact nature or timeline of Rohit Sharma's fitness issue that required clearance from the Centre of Excellence, leaving the severity of his prior condition ambiguous.
How coverage differed
Both outlets reported the same core facts neutrally, though ESPNcricinfo provided considerably more detail on Afghanistan's training session, squad dynamics, and individual player storylines, while Times of India focused more on Rohit's personal presence and crowd interactions at the venue.
What different sources said
- Times of IndiaCenter
Flicks, pulls and drives on show as Rohit Sharma hits stride in nets
- ESPNcricinfoCenter
Rohit eases back into training as Reddy, Kishan catch the eye in Mohali
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