'Getting started in 3...2...1' - Rohit Sharma engages in intense practice session ahead of SA tour

India’s newly appointed ODI skipper Rohit Sharma is all raring to take up the challenge of the South Africa tour. He has begun his training for the highly anticipated series which will also be his first assignment as India’s full-time ODI skipper. The opening batter took it to his official Instagram account to share his preparations.

India is scheduled to play three Test matches and as many ODIs against the Proteas starting from December 26. Ahead of the series, Sharma posted a video on his Instagram account wherein he is seen facing a throwdown specialist in the nets.

In the video, it appears that the batter is prepping hard to up his game for the upcoming challenge. It seems that Sharma is focusing on preparing for Test cricket. He is seen leaving the balls and defending them which will assist him to face the lethal pace attack of South Africa. He will also take up the responsibility as team India’s vice-captain in red-ball cricket. He added a fitting caption to the post. “𝙂𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝟛…𝟚…𝟙🏁,” the caption read.

 

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Rohit Sharma prepares ahead of the South Africa tour

Team India is all set to fly to South Africa next week for the marquee series. Previously, the team was also supposed to play four T20Is against the Proteas but that is now delayed to a later date. Rohit Sharma is one of the key players of the Indian setup and will have a greater responsibility to provide the team with flying starts.

Previously, Virat Kohli had announced that he will step down as India’s T20I skipper post the T20 World Cup 2021. Thus, Sharma was appointed as team India’s new T20I skipper and started his tenure when the side faced New Zealand in the home series. Whereas after the recent announcement, he is all set to take the full-time leadership of India in white-ball cricket.

Despite Ajinkya Rahane being there in the squad, Sharma has been appointed as the deputy of Kohli for the South Africa Tests. He was rested for the Test series against New Zealand and will be aiming to make a larger impact in the South Africa series.