TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: With two days to go before their Super Eight clash against South Africa, India are serious. Suryakumar Yadav and others spent over four hours at the Narendra Modi Stadium with frenetic energy. Occupied a huge space. Refreshed and energized after a day’s rest, the players began walking down the long stairs from the dressing rooms to the pitch around 5:30 p.m., and immediately got to work. There were no absences and everyone made their presence felt through bat, ball and catch drills under fielding coach T Dilip.
What started as a shot on a driving range gradually spread to the far end of the practice square, where grounds crews arranged range shots. Even the practice cage facing the main paddock of the stadium was lit up, with Kuldeep Yadav, Tilak Varma and Mohammed Siraj practicing their skills, with Jasprit Bumrah also arriving late. There’s so much activity everywhere that it’s difficult to monitor the multiple hotspots activated for marathons and high-intensity training.
After completing his usual release work with the resistance bands and getting familiar with the home court, Bumrah headed to the nets with bowling coach Morne Morkel. The South African was asked to remove his boot, which was placed right around the crease where the pop-up came and Bumrah locked in his target. The bowler throws some slack on the short run-up; once he’s satisfied with the run-up and grip near the landing zone, he bowls with full force.
It was a masterclass in precision as he kept bowling to perfect his art of nailing yorkers at will and receiving constant feedback from his bowling coach. After almost every delivery, the two would have a brief chat, and like a very patient learner, Bumrah soaked in the advice he received. Mohammed Siraj, still wearing thick clothes, dropped by and the two exchanged some banter before Bumrah resumed business. By the time he finished the game, Morkel’s shoe was severely damaged as the ball hit his shoe multiple times, but the coach didn’t complain. It’s a job well done and the focus is back on the main area.
Rings of fire were lit and cries of “Careful! Attention!” Back-to-back sixes from the Indian batsmen, especially Hardik Pandya, echoed in the empty stands. The right-hander changed nets and partners but looked great on nearly every pitch. The attack started with India’s spinners, continued with the seamers and ended with the destruction of all bowlers and side-armers in a marathon two-hour batting session.
His teammates had to duck for cover while the handful of officials and media personnel watching the net from viewing screens stayed focused on the ball. This was likely to be India’s last outing at full speed before the Super 8 series begins, and no player showed any drop in intensity during the middle period. From Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak and Suryakumar Yadav, to bowlers Siraj, Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy, to all-rounders – Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar – they came in but left in a sweat after a seemingly satisfying outing.
As expected, initial attention was limited to the world’s number one T20I batsman Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to make a mark in the tournament. Through three games, the youngster looked a bit low on confidence and his late inability to get into the batting net raised some eyebrows. However, it was similar to what he did on the eve of Wankhede’s game against the United States, where he was one of the last players to bat. Similar to that enjoyable night in Mumbai, the left-hander first batted for a long time and then focused solely on hitting a six in Ahmedabad on Friday. The connection isn’t quite as sweet, however, and the three ducks’ baggage does seem to stress him out a bit.
Before the game started, coach Gautam Gambhir gave a long inspiring speech. The two fist-bumped after a lively conversation, ensuring management’s support. Bowling coach Morne Morkel echoed this sentiment in his pre-training press conference.
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“Abhishek is a world-class player. Fortunately, there were people who stood by Abhishek and obviously didn’t get the results he wanted. But we are now at a very important stage of the World Cup and I’m pretty sure he will make a difference,” Morkel said when asked about discussions about Abhishek in the Indian camp.
“Not just for the team but for everyone watching because he’s funny and we love seeing that. So, yeah, I’m pretty sure [he’ll turn it around];He puts the ball into the net very well. It’s just a matter of starting and getting his innings going,” the 41-year-old further added.
Abhishek’s batting for nearly 20 minutes had everyone staring at the net where he hit the ball. From coach Gautam Gambhir to captain Suryakumar Yadav and other support staff, everyone is keeping an eye on the young lad, who has had a memorable T20 World Cup journey so far. The way everyone is grouped out of the net explains what the southpaw’s return means to the entire team and how much they value his contribution and role on the team.
For good players, it’s always a question of when, not how. Few doubt their abilities, and it’s the sweet connection everyone has been waiting for. The wait was not long as Abhishek managed to score a few goals in his short spell at bat, but judging by the way he left the net and stood near the training kit, he looked unsatisfied. For a batsman who sends shivers down the spine of his opponents, the struggle to get back into shape appears to be real. It’s also a reminder of how the sport has unfolded and continues to be a great equalizer.
Come Saturday, the combative southpaw will have another chance to make the right noise, as the rest of the tribe is expected to relax at the team hotel while only a few endure the afternoon heat.
