Virat Kohli might again be seen rolling his arms when India will face defending champions in their World Cup clash in Lucknow on October 29.
The suspense is palpable as Kohli was spotted bowling to his skipper Rohit Sharma during Team India's nets session. The sight of Kohli polishing his bowling craft hints at India’s intent to have an additional bowling option, especially given the formidable batting strength of their English counterparts.
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All the batters spent a significant amount of time in the three separate nets designated for pace, spin, and throw-downs. Ravindra Jadeja showcased his strength, trying for sixes and executing straight drives for fours. Every bowler, from Bumrah to R. Ashwin, turned their arms over.
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Meanwhile, the speculation around Kohli's bowling can also be sensed after the injury of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Sustaining an injury to his left ankle in the game against Bangladesh, the latest reports suggest Pandya's absence from the upcoming England clash. Kohli had to complete Pandya's over after the all-rounder had to walk out of the field during India versus Bangladesh match in Pune which the Men in Blue won by seven wickets.
Later, India made significant changes in their next game against New Zealand. Mohammed Shami was brought in while Shardul Thakur was rested, and Suryakumar Yadav was positioned at No. 6. This move narrowed down India's bowling arsenal to five specialists.
England, with their robust batting lineup, are known to aggressively target bowlers, often forcing team captains to consider alternative strategies. Given this, Hardik's void seems even more significant. Historically, India's top-order, which includes stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, hasn't been relied upon to bowl, thanks to the team's rich bowling reservoir. However, Pandya’s sudden absence has abruptly shrunk this reservoir.
Coming back to Kohli, the batting juggernaut isn't alien to bowling. In the initial stages of his illustrious career, Kohli often rolled his arm over. The recent net sessions, where Kohli delivered medium-pace balls to Rohit, indicate his commitment to revive this aspect of his game, possibly becoming a vital part-time bowling option.
Team India are enjoying their robust World Cup campaign as they have won all of their World Cup matches played so far to sit on top of the points table.
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