ICC Champions Trophy 2025: The India cricket team will play against New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 2. However, there are concerns about the fitness of key players, including Rohit Sharma, as India gets ready for their last group-stage match in the Champions Trophy.
IND vs NZ: Final Group-Stage Match Ahead
India and New Zealand have both reached the semi-finals of the ongoing Champions Trophy from Group A. India made it through with wins over Bangladesh and Pakistan, while New Zealand also won against Bangladesh and Pakistan to join Rohit Sharma’s team in the semi-finals.
After a two-day break, the players had a focused two-hour training session under the lights. The session started with warm-ups, including football, laps, and shuttle runs. Rohit Sharma avoided any intense activity, staying with the team during net practice but keeping to the background while others trained at full intensity.
Rohit Sharma’s Cautious Approach in Training Amid Hamstring Concern
Rohit Sharma began jogging under the watch of the Strength & Conditioning coach, but he didn’t seem to be moving comfortably. He had picked up a hamstring injury during the match against Pakistan. While the Indian skipper assured that it was fine, his training on Wednesday suggested otherwise.
The 37-year-old refrained from facing even light throwdowns and only practiced shadow batting. He also discussed his situation with head coach Gautam Gambhir and other coaching staff. The Indian team will be hoping their captain recovers in time for their next game in the Champions Trophy.
Virat Kohli, who scored a century against Pakistan, batted for over an hour during the session. The right-handed batter looked in great form, hitting the ball cleanly and showing excellent control on his cover drives. Kohli faced both spin and seam bowling and also took throwdowns.
There were concerns about Mohammed Shami, who had played two back-to-back matches with little recovery time. He had to leave the field for ankle treatment during the match against Pakistan.
However, Shami showed no signs of discomfort on Wednesday. He bowled at full intensity to Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul. The veteran pacer also received regular feedback from bowling coach Morne Morkel, who had rejoined the team after dealing with a personal emergency.
The team enjoyed some light-hearted moments during the session, particularly during a unique catching game after warm-ups. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run before the semi-finals. They are likely to field the same playing XI for the upcoming match, unless any injury concerns arise.
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