England, with its title defence in tatters, at best could play a spoiler for other teams. And India, with one foot in the semifinal, isn’t taking any chances against a wounded rival.
It was evident that the think-tank was trying to bolster its batting and bowling flanks, especially after Hardik Pandya’s left-ankle injury meant that the squad’s all-round balance had suffered a rough patch.
The Men in Blue, sheathe in their orange training jerseys, hit the ground running then on Thursday. As twilight intermingled into the night at the Ekana Stadium, frogs got busy claiming and a mass of insects flew around the floodlights. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma’s men limbered up with a spot of contending drills.
Catches, both high and close- heft, were rehearsed and trainer Rahul Dravid tried to clear the ropes while keeping the fielders in the deep, interested. nearly the full team, with the exception of Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan, were present for the voluntary nets at the venue, which will host Sunday’s World Cup game against a beleaguered England.
The sprawling sports lot with an inner colosseum and tennis courts besides the justice ground, was mulling with exertion. Indian players hitched a lift in taxicabs for the short drive to the near B ground and it was time for fur and bowling stints. Interestingly, the tail had a long hit with players ranging from Jasprit Bumrah to Kuldeep Yadav testing their willows. Bumrah tried some reaches and beamed while Kuldeep cheekily requested a shooter to click his fur filmland.
At the other end of the diapason, Virat Kohli sailed a bit, especially to Rohit. All the batters had a long stint in the three nets resolve into pace, spin and throw- campo. Ravindra Jadeja flexed some muscle, trying sixes and the straight- drilled four. From Bumrah toR. Ashwin, all the bowlers turned their arm over.
It was apparent that the think- tank was trying to bolster its fur and bowling sides, especially after Hardik Pandya’s left wing- ankle injury meant that the team’s each-round balance had suffered a rough patch. Rohit also had a long discussion with Mohammed Siraj. The fine- tuning of skill- sets will renew on Friday evening as India seeks to extend its absolute record so far in this World Cup.
A many others with the coaching staff led by Dravid, turned up for a training stint at the near B ground. Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan, who had skipped Thursday’s schedule, were a strong presence and besides them were Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur.
The lone specialist batter Gill hopped across nets, playing straight and getting those pivotal fur hours under his belt.
Having missed this World Cup’s early days due to dengue, the nature latterly etched 16, 53 and 26 with all three knocks revealing a certain permanence before an ambitious shot undid his surveillance.
Siraj and Thakur were the workhorses, bowling with ginger. The brace also had their individual fur stints. Shami, however, preferred a more softer approach. With just his left leg padded, wearing tracks and flexing his club against gentle gamble- campo, he kept driving or heaving through the line.
Hardik Pandya’s hopefully temporary absence is being felt and the Indian think- tank has been employing fresh strategies to seal the vacuum he has left before. Towards the end, Ishan and Thakur continued their hunt for fur meter and it was left for the original bowlers and guiding staff to keep the two enthralled.
It wasn’t easy in the heat while over in the skies, harpies glided in circles. Having arrived from Dharamshala’s cool geography, India has done well over these two days to get habituated to the rainfall contrasts in Lucknow in which the day’s dry heat seamlessly wanes into a more comfortable twilight before the night offers a nip in the air.
England, defending champion with its title defence in tatters, at best could play a spoiler for other brigades. And India, with one bottom in the semifinal, isn’t taking any chances against a wounded rival. Know More Latest Cricket News…
