‘Rohit Sharma's epic chat with a net bowler trying to break our pair’: Watch video

New Delhi: The Indian cricket team has begun their preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai with intense net sessions. Star players including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya have been putting in the hard work to adapt to the conditions ahead of the tournament. India captain Rohit Sharma was seen facing local left-arm pacer Awais Ahmad in the nets, gearing up for tough matchups against top pacers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Trent Boult during the crucial ICC event.

Following the practice session, Rohit shared a lighthearted moment with Ahmad, who had tested him with pinpoint yorkers. “Aap humare pair todhne ka koshish kar rahe the (You were trying to break my leg),” Rohit joked, showcasing his trademark humor.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul focused on perfecting his role as a finisher, working on his power-hitting skills. Typically known for his technical prowess, Rahul appeared intent on adopting a more aggressive approach as India trained for their opening Champions Trophy clash against Bangladesh.

With Rishabh Pant pushing for a spot in the playing XI, the 32-year-old seemed to embrace a more proactive, power-hitting mindset.

Rahul, who scored a quick-fire 40 off 29 balls in the third ODI against England, was seen clearing the ropes with ease, practising sixes off almost every delivery.

Set to bat at No 5 or 6, Rahul’s role will be crucial in the final overs, where he might be need to accelerate the innings from the outset and he could be seen practising range-hitting during the high-intensity session.

Shreyas Iyer, who has displayed aggressive batting in the recent series, also worked on his power game.

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Opener Shubman Gill, fresh from a Player-of-the-Series performance in the ODIs against England with scores of 87, 60, and 112, looked in sublime touch with a range of elegant strokes, including crisp drives and pulls.

India skipper Rohit Sharma, who returned to form with a scintillating 119 in the second ODI against England, also looked sharp, practising late cuts and delicate touch shots. India’s batting mainstay Virat Kohli, who showed signs of regaining form after hitting a 52 in the third ODI, also spend time honing his skills. He looked confident as he was middling the ball and tried to play late.