Virat Kohli displays his prowess in the nets, facing off against Bumrah, Chahal, and Arshdeep with full force. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya gears up to mirror his remarkable performance from 2017.

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Virat Kohli kicked off his T20 World Cup preparations with his debut training session in New York upon arrival, ahead of India’s upcoming match against Ireland scheduled for June 5th.

Senior Indian batsman Virat Kohli has commenced his training regimen for the T20 World Cup 2024, following his absence from the warm-up match against Bangladesh. Kohli arrived in New York later than anticipated and conducted his initial training session on Tuesday. Demonstrating his dedication, he was among the first players to hit the nets in preparation for the upcoming clash against Ireland. According to updates from T20 WC broadcasters Star Sports, the former Indian captain initiated his session by working with a throwdown specialist, engaging in batting drills for approximately 20 minutes.

Kohli further tested his skills against formidable bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja during his training session. Displaying his prowess, he dominated the bowlers in the nets. It appeared to be a productive session for the Indian maestro, who arrived in New York brimming with confidence following an outstanding IPL season. Kohli secured the Orange Cap by amassing 741 runs for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, setting the stage for a promising campaign ahead.

After completing his bowling stint, Hardik Pandya transitioned to batting practice in the nets. Engaging with coach Vikram Rathour, the pair participated in match simulations, focusing particularly on refining Pandya’s abilities to finish matches effectively. 

Pandya showcased his fine form during the warm-up match against Bangladesh, where he contributed a quickfire 40 runs off 23 balls, comprising four fours and two sixes. His aggressive batting style provided the Indian team with a strong finish, culminating in a total score of 182/5. Additionally, Pandya made an impact with the ball, claiming a wicket during the match.

In the warm-up match, India opted to bat first after winning the toss, navigating a challenging batting surface. Alongside Hardik Pandya’s explosive contribution, Rishabh Pant also made a significant impact with a blistering knock of 53 runs from 32 balls, adorned with four sixes and an equal number of fours.

Mehndi Hassan emerged as the standout performer among Bangladesh’s bowlers, claiming figures of 1/22.

In pursuit of 183 runs, Bangladesh struggled to build momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. Despite commendable efforts from Mahmadullah, who remained unbeaten with 40 runs off 28 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six, and Shakib al Hasan, who contributed 28 runs off 34 balls, including two fours, India’s bowling attack maintained control, restricting Bangladesh to 122/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube shone with the ball for India, securing figures of 2/12 and 2/13 respectively. Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, and Hardik Pandya also chipped in with a wicket each.