The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday, October 17, released the first official high-quality footage of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s much-awaited return to the nets in Perth ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against Australia. The video instantly went viral, capturing two of India’s greatest batting icons back in action after a long break.
In the clip, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are seen walking onto the ground with their trademark focus, padding up, and getting into the groove with some classic shots, fielding drills, and post-session interactions with fans. The footage ended with the duo signing autographs and smiling for pictures — moments that delighted Indian cricket followers worldwide.
This marked Kohli and Rohit’s first training session with Team India since the 2025 Champions Trophy. Both players had announced their retirement from Test cricket earlier this year and from T20Is in mid-2024, making this return to the ODI setup a key step toward the 2027 World Cup cycle.
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According to ESPNcricinfo, Virat Kohli spent close to 40 minutes in the nets, facing Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and a few local bowlers on a lively Perth wicket offering steep bounce.
Brace yourselves…they’re 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙄𝙣 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙨 🔥
Rohit Sharma 🤝 Virat Kohli
🎥 Watch on loop as the duo gears up for #AUSvIND 💪 #TeamIndia | @ImRo45 | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/u99yHyFfwJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2025
Though he occasionally missed deliveries that kicked up awkwardly, Kohli looked in rhythm — middling most balls and showcasing his trademark fluency.
Rohit, meanwhile, took time to find his rhythm in the adjacent net. Initially a touch scratchy, the Indian skipper began connecting beautifully as the session wore on, finishing with a series of powerful drives and pulls that reminded fans of his class.
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Despite their preparation in London and Mumbai respectively, both stalwarts face a true test in Perth — one of the fastest and most challenging surfaces in the world. With BCCI reportedly eyeing long-term transition plans ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, this series will be a defining moment for Kohli and Rohit to reaffirm that they remain indispensable to India’s white-ball ambitions.
