Gautam Gambhir's Reaction Says It All As Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Slam Bowlers For Fun. Watch

02.08.2024 - 05:48 sports.ndtv.com

The two stalwarts of Indian cricket Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in the team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Both of them will be playing an international game after a gap of one month. Virat and Rohit called time on their T20I careers after India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, but the duo remain available for the ODI and Test formats.

India's first ODI against Sri Lanka will take place at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 2. The Indian players trained at the venue ahead of the opening ODI game, and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stole the limelight with some sensational batting in nets.

As both Virat and Rohit were smashing bowlers for fun, India's new head coach Gautam Gambhir kept a keen eye on their practice. Watch it here: T20I SeriesIt's now time for ODIs #TeamIndia | #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/FolAVEn3OG KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer also took part in batting practice.

cricket watch Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Gautam Gambhir Shreyas Iyer Washington India Sri Lanka

CEAT Cricket Rating Awards ceremony was held in Mumbai on Wednesday to celebrate the remarkable achievements of cricketing legends. India skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday won the CEAT Men's International Cricketer of the Year award after he helped the Men in Blue win the T20 World Cup 2024 in July. Rohit has added 14,846 runs, three double hundreds, 33 hundreds, and 87 fifties in ODIs and T20Is combined. Apart from his mouth-watering tally, Rohit is a two-time ICC T20 World Cup (2007 and 2024) and ICC Champions Trophy winner. He also holds the record for most sixes in the shortest format.

Not Rohit Sharma Or Virat Kohli, This Indian Batter "Will Be A Massive Challenge" For Australian Bowlers, Feels Nathan Lyon

Ace off-spinner Nathan Lyon has already started his homework on rising batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal with England spinner Tom Hartley's inputs on the southpaw safely stored in his memory bank ahead of the five-Test Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia starting from November 22. Jaiswal, who scored a century on debut in the West Indies last year, scored an astounding 712 runs in the five Test series against England at home earlier this year. But the pace and bounce on offer on Australian tracks will pose a different challenge for the Mumbaikar.

Rohit Sharma Closes In On Babar Azam For No. 1 ODI Batting Ranking Spot, Star Indian Batter Falls

India ODI captain Rohit Sharma has leaped up to second spot in the ODI men's batting rankings, trailing only Pakistan captain Babar Azam now. Despite India losing the ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-0, Rohit was the highest run-scorer, scoring 157 runs at a strike rate of 141.44, including two fifties. After Babar, Indian batters occupy the next three spots, with Rohit Sharma in second, Shubman Gill in third and Virat Kohli in fourth. The three are separated by just 19 rating points.

"ODI Series Harney Ka Gift": Ex-Pakistan Star Takes Massive Dig At Gautam Gambhir

The Indian cricket team slumped to a shocking series loss on Sri Lankan soil for the first time in 27 years after the Rohit Sharma-led side were defeated comprehensively in third ODI encounter on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 249, India were completely outplayed as they were bundled out for 138. It was a stunning result for new head coach Gautam Gambhir who did not win a single ODI in his first assignment in the format. Former Pakistan cricket team star Tanvir Ahmed took to social media to take a dig at Rohit and co following the shocking loss. "India team ka ODI series harney ka gift Gautham ghambir (A gift for Gautam Gambhir from the India team that they lost the ODI series)," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"We Have To Do That": Rohit Sharma Ready To Pick 'Different Players' For ODIs After Sri Lanka Shock

India may adopt a 'horses-for-courses' policy after failing to counter the spin-friendly conditions here which led to their first series defeat to Sri Lanka in ODI cricket in 27 years. A spirited Sri Lanka used conditions to their advantage as their spinners bamboozled the Indian batters on slow and turning pitches to register a 2-0 win in the three-ODI series following a 110-run loss in the final game.

"He Isn't Foreign Coach": Ex-India Star's Blunt 'Kohli-Rohit Verdict' On Gautam Gambhir's Stance

The ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka were quite important from the perspective of the Indian cricket team as they were the first assignments of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. Rahul Dravid's tenure as the head coach came to an end following the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph and Gambhir was announced right away to take over the role. The first team selection for the new head coach came with some new faces but the ODI squad included two experienced names, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While the tour of Sri Lanka was being seen as an opportunity to try new combinations with young talents, Gambhir insisted on including Kohli and Rohit. Former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra was asked about the decision and he believes that including Rohit-Virat was not the right call.