Rohit back in practice, others take a break

Melbourne, December 31

Joining the Indian team after completing his mandatory 14-day quarantine, star batsman Rohit Sharma today went through his first practice session in Australia under the watchful eyes of batting coach Vikram Rathour.

The prolific opener is expected to play the third Test in Sydney, which begins on January 7.

“The engine is just getting started and here is a quick glimpse of what lies ahead,” the Indian cricket board’s Twitter page posted, along with two photographs of the batsman doing fielding practice.

While Sharma trained, the rest of the squad took a brief two-day break after India’s fine win in the second Test at the MCG.

The 33-year-old Mumbaikar had missed the limited-overs series as well as the first two Tests against Australia due to a hamstring injury that he sustained during the IPL. He had played on with the injury in the IPL, as BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly revealed, which may have prolonged his recuperation period.

At today’s practice, three throwdown experts — Raghavindraa, popularly known as Raghu, Sri Lankan Nuwan Seneviratne and Dayananda Garani — were also there to assist Sharma.

Prior to joining his teammates in Melbourne, Sharma had spent two weeks in quarantine in Sydney.

On Tuesday, head coach Ravi Shastri had said the medical team would look at how Sharma is doing physically before a call is taken on his inclusion in the playing XI for the third Test.

Sharma and the rest of the Indian team are likely to leave for Sydney on January 4 after a change in schedule due to the Covid-19 situation in New South Wales, of which Sydney is the capital. — Agencies