Former Coach Sanjay Bangar Details Kohli’s Rigorous Training Regimen Before England ODIs

India’s ongoing challenges in the white-ball format continue to mount ahead of their upcoming three-match ODI series in England, beginning July 14 in Birmingham. Following a 0-2 T20I defeat in Ireland and a 0-3 loss in the ongoing T20I series against England, the team is turning to experience with the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma under new captain Shubman Gill.

Kohli has reportedly intensified his preparations under the guidance of former mentor Sanjay Bangar, revisiting the meticulous training methods that previously transformed his performance in English conditions. Their renewed partnership underscores a focused effort to address the team’s struggles against moving deliveries.

Reflecting on Kohli’s evolution, Bangar highlighted the batter’s approach during the 2017-18 tour as a blueprint for current preparations. Speaking on Doordarshan’s The Great Indian Cricket Show, Bangar emphasized Kohli’s focus on adapting to England’s unique challenges: “Success there hinges on countering swing and timing your shots late. After the 2014 struggles, Kohli invested heavily in refining these skills.”

To simulate English conditions, the coaching team in Mumbai adopted unconventional training routines. Bangar described early morning sessions starting at 6 AM to harness moisture-laden pitches: “We aimed to recreate the damp atmosphere of English mornings. If the Mumbai sun dried the pitch, we’d manually water it to maintain unpredictable ball behavior.” These measures, he noted, were instrumental in Kohli’s dominant 2018 tour performance.

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