India vs. Australia: Rohit Sharma Has His First Net Session As Match 1 Heats Up For The Sydney Test | Cricket news

MELBOURNE: Vice Captain of India Rohit sharma on Friday he hit the batting nets for the first time since arriving in Australia as he prepares for Test 3 against Australia. While the team currently trains in Melbourne, the team will head to Sydney on Monday.
On Twitter, the Cricket Control Board in India (BCCI) posted a video showing Rohit hitting the ball hard on the nets. “The wait is over! The Hitman show @ ImRo45 is about to unfold. #TeamIndia,” BCCI captioned in the post.

Earlier in the day, BCCI named the opening batter as Ajinkya rahanesubstitute for the last two tests of the series.
Rohit, who joined his teammates after completing his 14-day quarantine period on Wednesday, will take the reins of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Rahane continues to lead the trial side in the absence of the usual employer Virat Kohli, who is on paternity leave. After a horrendous spectacle in the first test that saw visitors being packed for 36 in the second inning, India made an epic change in the absence of Kohli and Mohammed Shami to take the Boxing Day test on Tuesday. India’s starter Rohit flew in from Sydney on Wednesday and joined the rest of the team in Melbourne.
Rahane, who played a winning shot in the second test, had also made his excitement known after the victory at MCG. “We are excited about Rohit’s return. I spoke to him yesterday, he is looking forward to joining the team,” Rahane had said.
The inclusion of Rohit has increased India’s chances in the ongoing test series. The vice-captain was training hard on his fielding skills on Thursday with his sights set on Test 3 against Australia. Rohit, who injured his hamstring during the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates, is preparing for the third test that begins on January 7.
Meanwhile, India fast pitcher T Natarajan has been added to the test team for the remaining two test matches against Australia. The left arm pacemaker has replaced Umesh Yadav, who suffered a strained left calf muscle on the third day of the Boxing Day test in Melbourne.
“The All India Senior Selection Committee appointed T Natarajan as Yadav’s replacement. Before the Boxing Day Test, Shardul Thakur was added to the Test team as Mohd. Shami’s replacement after the senior fast bowler suffered a small fracture in his right forearm. Both Shami and Umesh Yadav will go to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further rehabilitation from their injuries, “BCCI said in an official statement on Friday.
Test equipment: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (goalkeeper), Rishabh Pant (goalkeeper), Jasprit bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan