Virat Kohli’s one-handed stunner lights up team India’s cheerful mood ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener

The environment in Team India’s dressing room appears to have notably enhanced in preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025.

New Delhi: Team India is entering the 2025 Champions Trophy in excellent shape, having recently completed a 3-0 ODI series victory over England at home. Captain Rohit Sharma has regained his form, scoring his 32nd ODI century during the series, while Virat Kohli contributed with a half-century. Even without Jasprit Bumrah, India is still considered one of the top contenders for the trophy. This improvement in performance appears to have positively influenced the atmosphere within the Indian team, as the BCCI shared a video of players training in Dubai, showcasing a cheerful and united spirit.

The training video, lasting just over two minutes, offered a glimpse into the lively environment of the Indian dressing room.

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Presenting from #TeamIndia‘s first practice session of #ChampionsTrophy 2025 in Dubai

WATCH

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 17, 2025

Captain Rohit Sharma could be seen lending some batting advice. “Time the ball. If you beat the cover fielder, it’s a boundary,” were his words of wisdom.

Rohit ultimately went to the practice nets, where he faced bowlers such as Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.

Virat Kohli was actively involved in the game. The 36-year-old seemed to be in high spirits and made an impressive one-handed catch in response to the play.

Rohit Sharma struck the ball high using a tennis racket, after which a player in the center, wearing a helmet, redirected it. Kohli, positioned just behind, executed an impressive one-handed catch, leading to celebrations among the team members.

Hardik Pandya was actively involved as well. Initially, he was spotted sharing a light-hearted conversation with Ravindra Jadeja in their native Gujarati language.

Subsequently, Pandya hit a shot that covered a long distance, receiving praise from Rishabh Pant.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar led the entire session, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also present.

“There are three nets in the centre. Post whatever you have done; if you want to do something extra work, you’ve got two nets out back; you can get some working there,” Nayar could be heard saying.

The atmosphere in the Team India training sessions contrasts significantly with the mood in the dressing room that was observed during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

India is competing for their third Champions Trophy title, which serves as a significant evaluation for head coach Gautam Gambhir. Given India’s strong performance in white-ball cricket recently, the team is optimistic about their chances as they play all their matches in Dubai.

India is set to compete against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand during the group stage of the Champions Trophy 2025.