India begins ODI series preparation at Edgbaston after T20I losses

By Arjun Sharma — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

India has commenced preparations for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, with the first training session held at Edgbaston. This comes after a challenging run in the shortest format, including a 0-4 series defeat to England in the T20I series and a 0-2 loss against Ireland.

During the training session, Virat Kohli engaged in an extensive discussion with ODI captain Shubman Gill for nearly 30 minutes. Their conversation focused on batting strategies for the series, with Kohli providing insights on shot selection, overall strategy, and methods to counter England’s bowling attack across the three matches. Kohli demonstrated various strokes and discussed potential scoring opportunities with Gill before they concluded their two-hour session, which also included fielding drills and net batting.

Early Preparations and Key Players

Only seven members of the ODI squad participated in the training session in Birmingham, as the rest of the Indian squad was in Southampton for the fifth and final T20I against England. The batters involved in the session were Kohli, Gill, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. The bowling group included Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Gurnoor Brar. To simulate various match scenarios, India also utilized local net bowlers, comprising two spinners and a fast bowler.

Both Kohli and Rohit displayed fluency during their time in the nets. Kohli showcased a range of strokes, confidently driving down the ground, executing paddle sweeps, and playing his characteristic flicks. Bumrah and Brar consistently challenged the batters by hitting the deck hard and generating bounce, contributing to an intense opening session. Kuldeep also had an extended bowling spell, while the local spinners offered additional variety to help batters prepare for English conditions.

The team’s support staff, including fielding coach T Dilip, spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, and throwdown specialist Dayasagar, supervised the training to fine-tune preparations for the upcoming series. The ODI series offers India an opportunity to regroup after their recent struggles in the T20I format.

Rohit Sharma’s Early Arrival and ODI Record

Rohit Sharma, a veteran player, arrived in England early to begin his preparations for the ODI series. His early arrival is part of an effort to acclimatize to the local conditions, especially given the difficulties faced by the Men in Blue in the recent T20I series. Despite being T20 World Cup champions, the team’s batting technique and strategy have reportedly shown weaknesses on pitches that are not flat decks.

Rohit’s initial destination after reaching England was the Slough Cricket Club in Berkshire. Following his experience there, he moved to Swyncombe Cricket Club near Blondin Park. This acclimatization process is intended to ensure he is well-prepared before joining the team in Birmingham for the first ODI match.

Rohit boasts a strong ODI record in England, having scored 1428 runs in 27 matches at an average of 64.9. He has also recorded 7 centuries in ODIs in England, which is the highest number of tons by any visiting batter in the country. Before the Afghanistan ODI series, Rohit had a challenging period due to a hamstring injury. However, he returned fit for that bilateral series, scoring 79 runs off a 69-ball knock in the third match, following scores of 48 and 16 in the first two matches.

The ODI series will commence at Edgbaston on July 14. The second match will be played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on July 16, and the series will conclude at Lord’s on July 19.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Arjun Sharma

Sports Reporter