India begins ODI preparations in Birmingham, Kohli...

By Aarav Reddy — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

India has commenced its preparations for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England with a training session at Edgbaston. The team’s first practice on Saturday saw key players engaging in focused drills, with a notable lengthy conversation between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill.

Kohli and Gill spent approximately 30 minutes in a detailed one-on-one discussion. This exchange appeared to center on batting strategies for the series, with Kohli offering insights on shot selection, overall strategy, and methods to counter England’s bowling attack across the three matches. The senior batter demonstrated various strokes and discussed potential scoring options with Gill before their two-hour session concluded, which also included fielding drills and batting in the nets.

Squad Members and Training Focus

Only seven members of the ODI squad participated in the training session in Birmingham. This was due to the remainder of the Indian squad being in Southampton for the fifth and final T20I against England. The T20I match resulted in a 56-run loss for India, completing a 0-4 series defeat.

The batters involved in the Birmingham session included Kohli, Gill, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. The bowling group was led by Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Gurnoor Brar. To simulate various match conditions, India also utilised local net bowlers, comprising two spinners and a fast bowler.

During their time in the nets, both Kohli and Rohit displayed fluency. Kohli, in particular, showcased a range of strokes, confidently driving down the ground, executing paddle sweeps, and playing his characteristic flicks fine down the leg side. Bumrah and Brar provided an intense opening to the session by consistently testing the batters with hard-hitting deliveries and extracting bounce. Kuldeep also had an extended bowling spell, while the local spinners offered additional variety to help the batters prepare for English conditions.

The training session was overseen by India’s support staff, including fielding coach T Dilip, spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, and throwdown specialist Dayasagar, as the visitors fine-tuned their preparations.

Rohit Sharma’s Early Arrival and Preparation

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, the former India captain, had arrived in London early to prepare for the ODI series. He has been engaging in dedicated training sessions at local cricket clubs in and around London, including Slough and Swyncombe. This early arrival allowed him to settle into the conditions and reconnect with old friends.

Sharma’s early preparation follows his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026, which had limited his playtime before the England tour. Now fully fit, the veteran opener is concentrating on the 50-over format, having retired from Tests and T20Is. He was recently seen enjoying an outing with a childhood friend and former teammate, sharing pictures on social media with the caption, ‘Old school vibes just hit different.’

Reports indicate that Rohit completed several full training sessions at local clubs, facing local bowlers as part of his preparations. He is expected to join the rest of India’s ODI squad in Birmingham soon.

Series Outlook

The ODI series offers India an opportunity to regroup following a disappointing run in the shortest format. The team arrived in England after a 0-2 T20I series defeat in Ireland, which was then followed by the comprehensive 0-4 defeat against England in the T20I series.

The ODI series will commence at Edgbaston on July 14. Following the first match, India will travel to Sophia Gardens in Cardiff for the second match on July 16. The series will conclude at Lord’s on July 19.