Cuttack: India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was stunned to see 20,000-plus crowd during the Team India’s net practice at Barabati Stadium in Odisha’s Cuttack’s city on Saturday.
“We didn’t expect this. Came here into the dressing room and suddenly felt like we had lost track of days and forgot that today is a game day. That is how the energy and the vibe was. It’s good fun. It’s way different from how we usually practice. Just to have so many people come in even though it is just a practice session was something different,” Rahul said in a video posted by the BCCI.
Cuttack 🏟️: You are a vibe 🔝 #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 ODI 2️⃣ ready
WATCH 🎥🔽 #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 9, 2025
The loudest cheers were reserved for Virat Kohli, who returned to playing XI after missing the opener in Nagpur due to a sore right knee.
Another team member said that they it felt it was the game day. “The number of people who have turned up, so exciting practice session for us.”
A fan said she was there to watch Rohit Sharma’s practice session.
In view of the excitement among cricket enthusiasts with Barabati hosting an ODI after a gap of six years, the Odisha Cricket Association’s (OCA) had opened a part of the stands for fans to watch India at the nets, for free.
