Xtra Time Web Desk: The Indian cricketers were back training after enjoying a couple of days break after the game against South Africa. It was an optional practice session for the Men in Blue with Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin not turning up. Rohit and his boys will take on Netherlands in the final group league game of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on November 12 here at the M Chinnaswamy stadium.
There was an interesting moment at the start of the training session with Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer trying their hand with baseball bat. May be the idea was to practice horizontal shots. Focus were on the bowlers as Mohammed Siraj was the first to bat in the nets along with Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan.
Shubman, who became the No 1 ODI batter was seen facing the likes of Prasidh Krishna and Jasprit Bumrah. He also faced a few net bowlers as well. Ishan Kishan was seen taking throwdowns in the adjacent nets from Nuwan, Raghu and Dayanand. The two switched over the nets after batting for 20 minutes. There was some anxious moment as the wicketkeeper batter from Jharkhand was hit in the abdomen area by a delivery from Bumrah. It was an embarrassing moment which brought smiles on Bumrah’s face. After being attended by the medical staffs, Ishan was seen taking guard.
Next to bat in the nets was Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja. The team management including the likes of Head Coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour were seen spending time on the lower order batters.
Shreyas, who scored a brilliant knock against South Africa at Eden Gardens looked in great touch, hitting some big hits. Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Siraj were taken to cleaners by Iyer.
Shreyas Iyer and Jadeja swapped nets, but Iyer’s onslaught continued. His bat seemed to have a magnet for the throwdown specialists, as he confidently met each delivery with ferocity. When he eventually returned to the dressing room, he waved his bat as if he had just scored a century, perhaps visualizing the grandeur of what is awaiting him on match day.
Local boy KL Rahul was seen facing Prasidh Krishna. The lanky pacer from Karnataka looked in great rhythm and spend the maximum time in the nets among the fast bowlers.
Amid the ongoing practice, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid had a good look at the pitch and engaged in a lengthy discussion with the curator as well.
Towards the end of the practice session Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill were seen engaged in a discussion presumably on shot selection. Head Coach Rahul Dravid also joined the discussion a little later.
While Rohit Sharma was present at the practice session, he chose not to bat on this occasion. With three days remaining before the match against the Netherlands, the Indian team was determined to finish the league stage unbeaten and head into the semis.