Despite the biting cold, Virat Kohli arrived at Vadodara's Kotambi Stadium hours before his teammates, clad in a sleeveless T-shirt, and immediately began his net session. His focus was clear: preparation for the first ODI against New Zealand this Sunday. A couple of nets away, India's ODI captain Shubman Gill was also deep in practice, hitting the ball with power and precision.
Intense Nets Session as Stars Gear Up
Kohli, showing no signs of being affected by the weather, played some gorgeous drives during his practice. His early arrival underscored his dedication. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, who is still very new to leading India in Tests and ODIs, looked completely focused on fine-tuning his game. This comes after a recent setback where he was dropped from India's T20I team, despite being named vice-captain just months earlier.
Gill had a brief stint in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Punjab, scoring 11 runs in a solitary match in Jaipur against Goa. However, for the past two days in Vadodara, he has been working relentlessly to rediscover the form that saw him amass a remarkable 754 runs in five Tests in England last year.
Mental Strength and a Historic Setting
Those close to the young captain vouch for his resilience. "He's mentally very strong. Such things happen in the life of a sportsperson. He's not the type who will get affected. He knows he has to respond to such things with his bat," said Arvinder Singh, CEO of Gill's IPL team, Gujarat Titans.
The Baroda Cricket Association is planning a grand event to mark the occasion, as this will be the first-ever men's ODI at the Kotambi Stadium. The star duo of Kohli and Rohit Sharma will 'flag off' the match in a special ceremony. This game marks the return of international cricket to Vadodara after almost 15 years. The last international match here was also between India and New Zealand, on December 4, 2010, where current head coach Gautam Gambhir scored a century.
A New Captain in a Star-Studded Setup
Gill's current situation, leading a team that still features legends like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, is a reminder of a similar phase in Indian cricket history when a young Mohammad Azharuddin captained a team full of established stars. At 26, Gill is at the beginning of his leadership journey in the 50-over format and will be eager to make a strong statement with his performance.
The stage is set for a memorable encounter. With passionate players putting in the hard yards and a city eagerly awaiting international cricket after a decade and a half, the first ODI promises high-octane action and a touch of history.
