Virat Kohli was seen rolling his arm in the nets in Adelaide on Tuesday as Indian pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, alongside seam-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, endured a rather quiet outing.
Kohli has prior bowling experience in international cricket, having bowled in eleven Test innings without taking a wicket. However, he has five ODI wickets and four T20I wickets to his name.
Coming off a recent century in Perth, Kohli was dismissed twice by edges in the pink-ball Test. Both dismissals resulted in catches—one by the second slip and the other by the wicketkeeper.
Kohli’s net session began cautiously, gradually building in intensity, reflecting a measured approach to his preparation.
Watch: Virat Kohli switches roles at the nets
After a disappointing 10-wicket loss in the pink-ball Test, Indian batters, led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, began red-ball practice in Adelaide on Tuesday. Their objective was to improve their performance ahead of the third Test in Brisbane.
The Australian team has already travelled to Brisbane for the third Test, which starts on Saturday. The Indian team, however, chose to stay in Adelaide to focus on refining their red-ball techniques, particularly defensive play and shot selection.
Rohit Sharma, who returned to the team after the birth of his son, is working to regain form. He has scored only 142 runs in his last twelve innings, with just one half-century of 52.
Sharma practised against both spin and pace bowlers, adopting a comprehensive approach to regain his batting rhythm. He was dismissed for scores of three and six in the pink-ball Test.
In the first innings of that match, Sharma was trapped leg-before-wicket by a nip-backer, while in the second innings, he was bowled by Pat Cummins.
KL Rahul focused on defensive drills during the practice session, aiming to solidify his technique against the Australian bowling attack.
Rishabh Pant practised his signature pick-up shots, reinforcing his aggressive batting style—a crucial aspect of his game.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a commanding 161 in India’s 295-run victory in the first Test, displayed his aggressive batting style in the nets. He played a wide range of shots, including stepping out against bowlers, showcasing confidence and intent.
The practice session featured bowlers such as Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, Yash Dayal, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Washington Sundar, providing a variety of bowling styles for the batters to face. Several throwdown specialists were also present.
India’s departure for Brisbane is scheduled for Wednesday, marking the next phase of preparation. The team’s goal is to regroup and plan for the upcoming Test, addressing the mistakes made in Adelaide while adapting to the different conditions expected in Brisbane, known for its pace and bounce.
