Vadodara

India completed their final preparations for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand on Saturday, with a light-hearted yet focused training session that saw senior players guiding teammates and a brief injury scare involving wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.

Former captain Rohit Sharma was seen sharing batting advice with fast bowler Mohammed Siraj during the optional practice session. Siraj, who arrived early for training, struggled to connect while attempting aggressive shots in the nets, prompting Rohit to step in with some technical suggestions. Siraj’s focus during the session remained largely on batting.

Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, fresh from leading Mumbai in a narrow one-run defeat to Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier this week, spent considerable time batting alongside KL Rahul. Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also had extended net sessions as the team fine-tuned its preparations.

Siraj, Iyer and Pant were all coming off recent domestic commitments, having last featured for their respective state sides on January 8 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Pant, however, had an uncomfortable moment during practice when he was struck by a delivery just above the waist while facing throwdown specialists. The left-hander was visibly in pain and was immediately attended to by the team’s medical staff, with head coach Gautam Gambhir and other support personnel checking on him. After receiving initial treatment, Pant walked off the field at the BCA Stadium’s Ground B as a precaution.

Meanwhile, India captain Shubman Gill was seen engaged in a lengthy discussion with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar on the sidelines.

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The ODI series against a revamped New Zealand side begins on Sunday, marking the first men’s international match to be hosted at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. The second ODI will be played at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium on January 14, followed by the series decider at Indore’s Holkar Stadium.