NEW DELHI: After an impressive showing in the ODI series against South Africa, India’s batting mainstay Virat Kohli has quickly turned his focus to the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand. As the Indian team assembled in Vadodara to begin preparations, Kohli returned to the national camp in a relaxed and cheerful mood, setting a positive tone ahead of the series opener.The senior batter was seen in his element during training, cracking jokes, exchanging high-fives with teammates and sharing laughs as India eased into their practice sessions. Kohli’s light-hearted presence kept the atmosphere upbeat, offering a glimpse of the confidence within the camp following recent successes.
That easygoing vibe was best reflected during a net session when Kohli briefly slipped into entertainer mode. Spotting left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh running in to bowl, Kohli playfully mimicked his distinctive run-up, exaggerating the strides and movements to comic effect. The impromptu act drew instant laughter from teammates nearby and momentarily cut through the intensity of the session.While the mood was relaxed, the intensity of preparation was unmistakable. Senior batters Kohli and Rohit Sharma both looked in good touch as India went through a rigorous training session on Friday. The upcoming ODI series, beginning on Sunday, marks the start of a demanding stretch for the team, which will be followed by a long T20 season featuring a five-match series against New Zealand, the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League.Kohli and Rohit spent close to one-and-a-half hours batting against Indian pacers, spinners and throwdown specialists, following their recent appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kohli, who struck scores of 77 and 131 in the domestic competition, took on both pace and spin with authority, though variable bounce from one of the practice nets posed a brief challenge.Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and pacer Mohammed Siraj were absent from the three-hour training session, having represented their respective state teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday. The trio is expected to link up with the squad later in the evening.India captain Shubman Gill also completed his training drills comfortably, batting in the nets after recovering from a toe injury that had ruled him out of the final two T20Is against South Africa. The team had trained at the BCA Stadium at Kotambi on Thursday as well, with the venue set to host its first-ever men’s international match.
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