[Watch] Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma focus on specific aspects ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
As Team India prepare to battle Australia in the all-important third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, their batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were practising hard at the nets on certain specifics. As per a Star Sports anchor live at India's nets session, Kohli was keenly working on his backfoot play and leaving balls outside off-stump.
With the Brisbane pitch expected to be fast and bouncy, Kohli was reportedly focusing on the deliveries in the 8 to 12-meter length. Coming to skipper Rohit Sharma, he was reportedly looking as solid as ever and completely acclimatized to the Australian conditions. He was also keen on leaving as many deliveries outside off-stump as possible.
Here is a video from the Star Sports X handle of the two senior batters working on their batting two days before the Brisbane Test:
It was also reported that the pacers, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep, had an equal workout at the nets. However, among the spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar bowled more than Ravichandran Ashwin, who played in India's ten-wicket loss at Adelaide.
Kohli has been in dismal form in Tests this year, averaging under 27 in eight outings. Yet, he seemingly returned to his best with a second-innings century in the opening Test at Perth.
However, twin failures in Adelaide meant the questions around Kohli's form continued to dominate the headlines.
Meanwhile, Rohit missed the first Test and scored only 9 runs across the two innings in the second Test. His form has been equally worrisome, with an average of 27.13 in Tests this year in 12 outings.
The veteran batter has scored only one half-century in his last 12 Test innings, dating back to the home series against Bangladesh.
Rohit Sharma's batting position for Brisbane still in doubt
Apart from form issues, questions about Rohit Sharma's batting position for the Brisbane Test remain.
The 37-year-old batted at No. 6 in the second Test to allow KL Rahul and Jaiswal to continue as the openers after their heroics with a double-century stand in the series opener.
Rohit had never batted anywhere except the top in Tests since the 2018/19 Australian tour, averaging an impressive 44 as a Test opener in his career.
With divided opinions among experts on Rohit's batting position for Brisbane and no clarity yet from those concerned, fans might have to wait until the start of the contest on December 14 to find out.