Debasis Sen, Port of Spain: The Indian team had to cancel their optional practice ahead of the third ODI against West Indies at the Queens Park Oval on Tuesday. The team was supposed to have an optional training after shooting a small advertisement on ‘Water Conservation’ for the Government of India. But the shoot almost took three hours to be completed, leaving the cricketers tired.
The cricketers were shooting under the sun for almost an hour with the captain spending more time in front of the camera.
By the time the shoot ended, the team management decided to cancel the optional training. But there was one cricketer who was seen walking into the middle after the shoot ended.
Wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant took throw downs from batting coach Sanjay Bangar along with Raghavendra and Nuwan, immediately after the shoot. The talented cricketer has been under severe criticism from certain sections in the media for throwing away his wickets after getting set in the middle. Pant himself realizes that he needs to curb a few strokes that have led to his downfall in recent times.
“Obviously as an individual I would like to have a big score on my back, but every time I go in I am not focusing on that I am getting out after I get settled. I just want to play normal cricket, positive cricket and hopefully I can help my team to win matches,” said Pant to the media ahead of the practice session at Queens Park Oval.
Talking about what the future lies in store ahead, Pant said, “Every year and every match is crucial for me. Every day of my life is crucial. I want to improve myself as a cricketer, as a person, that’s what I am looking forward to.”
On the statistical front, Kuldeep Yadav is just 4 wickets away from being the fastest to reach 100 wickets in ODI’s. The tweaker has 96 wickets to his name in 53 ODIs and a four-wicket haul on Wednesday will help him become the fastest Indian to the feat of 100 ODI wickets. Pacer Mohammed Shami holds the record (56 matches) of being the fastest to 100 ODI wickets
It is also learnt from the sources that the team’s administrative manager Sunil Subramanium is likely to be called back to India after he was charged for allegedly misbehaving with officials of the Indian High Commissions in Guyana and Trinidad. Subramanium, is also serving an extension of 45 days along with other support staffs after his contract ended with the World Cup in England.