TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Two days before their Super Eight clash against South Africa, India meant business. Frenetic energy gripped the Narendra Modi Stadium for over four hours as Suryakumar Yadav & co. took over the gigantic venue. Refreshed and energized after a day’s rest, the players began descending the long staircase from the locker room to the field around 5:30 pm and immediately got to work. There were no absences and everyone made their presence felt with bat, ball and catch session under the guidance of fielding coach T Dilip.
What initially started as a hit on a practice pitch made its way to the other end of the practice plaza, where the ground crew made late arrangements for range hits. Even the practice cage towards the main stadium enclosure was lit up and housed Kuldeep Yadav, Tilak Varma and Mohammed Siraj working on their skills, with Jasprit Bumrah joining in late on. There was activity everywhere and it became difficult to monitor the multiple hot spots that were activated for the marathon but high-intensity training session.
After completing his usual release work with the resistance band and familiarizing himself with the main wicket, Bumrah went to the nets with bowling coach Morne Morkel. The South African was asked to remove his boots which were precisely placed around the crease and Bumrah set his sights. The bowler bowled a few looseners in a short run; Once satisfied with the run and grip near the landing zone, he launched with all his effort.
It was a masterclass in precision as he bowled repeatedly to perfect his art of nailing yorkers at will and received constant feedback from the bowling coach. The two engaged in brief chats after almost every delivery, and like a very patient student, Bumrah absorbed the advice he received. Mohammed Siraj, still padded, stopped by and the two had some nice banter before Bumrah resumed business. When it was over, Morkel’s shoes were badly damaged when the ball hit both of them multiple times, but the coach didn’t complain. It was a job well done and attention returned to the main field.
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The ring of fire was lit in all its glory and shouts of “Be careful! Be careful!” echoed through the empty stands as India’s batsmen, Hardik Pandya in particular, unleashed a barrage of sixes. The right-hander changed nets and partners, but seemed to do it in a big way with almost every pitch. The attack began against the Indian team’s spinners, continued against the seamers and concluded with the destruction of everything the bowlers and net-sides sent his way during the marathon two-hour batting session.
His teammates had to duck for cover and the handful of officials and media personnel watching the nets from the screen were constantly focused on the ball. This could well be India’s last full-speed knock before the Super 8s begin and neither player showed any dip in intensity during their time in the middle. From Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak and Suryakumar Yadav to the bowlers Siraj, Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy, and then the all-rounders (Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar), they came fresh but left drenched in sweat after what looked like a satisfactory outing.
As expected, the initial focus was restricted to the world’s number one T20I batsman Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to break the mark in the tournament. With three ducks in as many games, the youngster seemed a little low on confidence and his late entry into the batting net caught some attention. However, it was similar to what he had done on the eve of the game against the United States in Wankhede, where he was one of the last players to get a hit. Just like on that pleasant evening in Mumbai, the left-hander first bowled a long spell and then concentrated solely on hitting sixes in Ahmedabad on Friday. However, the connections were not so sweet and the luggage of three ducks seemed to weigh him down a bit.
Before the process began, coach Gautam Gambhir gave a long pep talk. The fist bump between the two after their animated talk ensured that management has his back. Bowling coach Morne Morkel echoed this sentiment in the pre-training press conference.
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“Abhishek is a world-class player. Fortunately, there were guys who stood up to Abhishek, obviously he didn’t score the runs he would like. But we are going through a very important phase of the World Cup now and I am pretty sure he is going to deliver,” Morkel said when asked about the discussions surrounding Abhishek in the Indian camp.
“Not just for the team, but for all the spectators watching the game, because it’s entertaining and we love to see that. So, yeah, I’m pretty sure (he’ll turn it around); he’s hitting the ball well in the nets. It’s just a matter of getting going and getting his innings going,” the 41-year-old added.
Abhishek’s nearly 20-minute hit kept everyone glued to the net where he was batting. From coach Gautam Gambhir to captain Suryakumar Yadav and other members of the support staff, everyone watched the youngster who has had a forgettable campaign in the T20 World Cup so far. The way everyone gathered outside the nets explained what the lefty’s recovery means to the entire group and how much they value his contributions and role on the team.
With quality players, the question is always when, not how. There is very little doubt about his ability and it is that sweet connection that everyone hopes for. The wait wasn’t long as Abhishek managed to hit a few shots in his short knock, but the way he came out of the net and stood near his training kit, he didn’t look happy. For a batsman who has sent shivers down the spines of his opponents, the struggle to return to fitness seemed real. It was also a reminder of how this sport develops and remains a great equalizer.
On Saturday, the belligerent left-hander will have another chance to hit the right notes, as the rest of the clan is expected to relax at the team hotel while only a few endure the afternoon heat.