During tournaments, the Indian cricket team often faces a hectic travel schedule, leading to optional net practice sessions between games. However, Rohit Sharma's squad has maintained their high-intensity levels during the ongoing World Cup, where they are set to face Bangladesh. They have a unique training pattern, with full team practice sessions held 48 hours before a match.
Whether they are playing in Chennai, Delhi, or Ahmedabad, the entire team comes together for a practice session two days prior to the game. On the eve of the match, it's typically the reserve players who require more time in the nets that join the support staff for practice. Even the team captain, Rohit Sharma, tried his hand at bowling but quickly withdrew after Hardik Pandya smacked his deliveries all over the place.
Now, the question arises: will one of their top pacers, Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj, be rested? Both have already played three games in six days and are scheduled to play two more in just four days. Considering that Bangladesh's current ODI team isn't as strong as it was in the 2015 World Cup, there's a possibility that the team management might contemplate giving Mohammed Shami an opportunity against Bangladesh, especially since their next match is against New Zealand in the seamer-friendly conditions of Dharamsala, where India has historically struggled.
However, the final decision could depend on the workload of the pacers and whether they express a desire for rest. In the evening nets, all three pacers were seen bowling at full steam.
When it came to batting, India's top-order batsmen, including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, were among the first to step into the nets. They faced the team's fast bowling attack, including all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Kohli had an extended session in the nets, while Pandya showcased his power-hitting skills, sending the ball into the stands with some spectacular shots over the cover region.
In a separate net, Ravichandran Ashwin bowled to Ravindra Jadeja, while Shreyas Iyer faced throwdown specialists. In adjacent nets, Ishan Kishan, who played in the first two games against Australia and Afghanistan, faced Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav in tandem.
KL Rahul, the wicketkeeper-batsman for India, focused on fielding drills before getting ready to bat. He found Kohli batting nearby, facing throwdowns, while other players like Gill dispersed for their fielding drills. Gill, after some catching practice, returned to the batting crease and even took on Kishan with a few powerful hits.
Towards the end of the three-hour long practice session, batting coach Vikram Rathour provided throwdowns to Suryakumar Yadav for an extended period. Suryakumar worked on his explosive batting strokes, occasionally mistiming them. Rathour even celebrated when he managed to dismiss Suryakumar with a short ball.
On the other side of the field, Bangladesh had an extended training session, lasting over three hours in the afternoon heat. Captain Shakib Al Hasan, who had suffered a quad injury to his left leg in a previous game, was in attendance. His availability for the upcoming match against India depended on how he fared in training over the next two days. In a recent net session, Shakib batted for a while and hit a few sixes to test his left leg's response to the workload.
Mushfiqur Rahim, a senior batter for Bangladesh who had scored two fifties in the last two matches, also had a successful net session. He consistently sent the bowlers' deliveries into the stands, showcasing his good form with the bat.
In summary, the Indian cricket team has maintained its high intensity levels during the World Cup, with a unique training pattern. The question of whether to rest key pacers like Bumrah and Siraj depends on various factors, including workload and player preference. Bangladesh, on the other hand, is closely monitoring Shakib Al Hasan's fitness as they prepare for their upcoming match against India.
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