Rohit Sharma to be Ruled Out of Champions Trophy 2025? Indian skipper adds worrying update

The India national cricket team will take on the New Zealand national cricket team at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Sunday, March 2. However, there are injury concerns for key players, including Rohit Sharma, as the Men in Blue prepare for their final group-stage game in the Champions Trophy.

India and New Zealand have advanced to the semi-finals of the ongoing Champions Trophy from Group A. Team India secured their spot with victories over both Bangladesh and Pakistan. New Zealand also secured victories against Bangladesh and Pakistan to join Rohit Sharma's team in the last four.

Rohit Sharma Avoids Strenuous Activity in First Training Session After Recent Win

Following victory over Pakistan, India returned to training at the ICC Academy. Rohit Sharma took a cautious approach due to a hamstring concern, while Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami looked in good touch. The squad focused on keeping their unbeaten streak intact ahead of the semi-final matches.

After a two-day break, the players had an intense two-hour session under the lights. The session began with warm-ups, including football, laps, and shuttle runs. Rohit avoided strenuous activity. While he stayed with the team before net practice, he remained in the background as others trained at full intensity.

Rohit Sharma Skips Throwdowns During Training Session

Rohit started jogging under the supervision of the Strength & Conditioning coach. However, he didn’t seem to be moving comfortably. He had picked up a hamstring issue during the match against Pakistan. The Indian skipper assured that it was fine, but his training on Wednesday suggested otherwise.

The 37-year-old refrained from facing even gentle throwdowns and only practiced shadow batting. He also engaged in discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and other coaching staff members. The Indian team will be hoping their captain recovers in time for their next game in the Champions Trophy.

Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami Train Ahead of New Zealand Clash

Virat Kohli, who scored a century against Pakistan, batted for over an hour. The right-handed batter hit the ball cleanly and displayed excellent control on his cover drives. Kohli also faced both spin and seam bowling and took on throwdowns during the session.

There were concerns about Mohammed Shami, who played two back-to-back matches with little recovery time. He left the field for some time during the match against Pakistan for ankle treatment.

However, he showed no signs of discomfort on Wednesday. Shami bowled at full intensity to Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul. The veteran pace bowler received regular feedback from bowling coach Morne Morkel, who had rejoined the team after attending to a personal emergency.

The team shared light-hearted moments during the session, especially during a unique catching game after warm-ups. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run before the semi-finals. They could field the same playing XI for the upcoming match unless any injury concerns arise.