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India's preparations for their upcoming clash against England in the ICC World Cup 2023 have taken an interesting turn due to the delayed return of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who sustained an ankle injury during a match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19. With Pandya unavailable, a unique aspect of India's training session in Lucknow was the involvement of specialist batsmen trying their hand at bowling.
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During the optional evening training session at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, many of India's primary batters were seen rolling their arms over, a notable departure from their usual roles. India, currently enjoying an unbeaten streak with five consecutive victories in the World Cup, is gearing up to face England in their next match.
Virat Kohli, one of India's batting stalwarts, kicked off this unorthodox practice by trying his part-time seam bowling skills, delivering a few overs to team captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Following this, Kohli switched to his primary role as a batsman and engaged in an extended batting session.
Among the designated batters who took on the role of bowlers, Surya Kumar Yadav was the most active in the nets, practicing his skills as the sixth bowler. He bowled to Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, even managing to deceive the latter, earning praise and a hug from Ravichandran Ashwin.
This shift in training focus reveals India's strategy to encourage their main batsmen to work on their bowling abilities in preparation for upcoming matches. The absence of Hardik Pandya, who is known for his dual role as a middle-order batsman and a reliable sixth-bowling option, has necessitated this adjustment in team dynamics.
Hardik Pandya was initially expected to miss India's game against New Zealand in Dharamsala and rejoin the team in Lucknow as per the BCCI's announcement. However, his return has been delayed, creating a need for alternative options within the squad.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, was among the first to enter the nets, spending a substantial 45 minutes practicing his batting with throwdowns from batting coach Vikram Rathour.
Notably, Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan were the only two members of the squad who chose to skip the optional training session, possibly to rest and conserve their energy for the upcoming crucial match against England.
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