Despite it being an optional training day at Supersport Park, India's captain Rohit Sharma felt it necessary to attend the nets session. Having been troubled by Kagiso Rabada, in both innings of the first Test, Rohit was keen to refine his skills. He dedicated two hours to practice, displaying equal commitment as both captain and batsman.
Rohit specifically focused on batting against Mukesh Kumar, who bowled exclusively to him for around 45 minutes. While other bowlers like the recovered Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were also present, Rohit concentrated his efforts on tackling the Bengal seamer, who only had one Test match experience. Dayanand Garani, the throwdown expert, also contributed by delivering fast, full-length balls aimed at the off stump. Rohit's main objective was to practice against deliveries from Mukesh that angled in from a length.
"Hawa mein andaar aa raha hai. Par koshish kar angle se andar laane ka," the skipper told his younger colleague.
Rohit Sharma had specific requirements for Mukesh Kumar during their practice session, asking him to bowl within a 4-6 metre length. Mukesh, who has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket and instrumental in Bengal's two Ranji Trophy finals appearances in three years, managed to impress the captain. At times, he even succeeded in beating Rohit's bat, earning praise from the seasoned player.
When batting coach Vikram Rathour suggested Rohit use a different net designated for throwdowns, asking "Tu is net pe aayega" (Would you like to use this one), the skipper chose to continue in the same net, responding, "Nahi yahin pe aur 10 minute bat karoonga" (No, I will bat here for another 10 minutes).
Rohit seemed to spend additional time with Mukesh, possibly providing tips on wrist position and the optimal length for consistent bowling.
Mukesh's performance on the day posed some challenging questions to the Indian captain, potentially making a strong case for his inclusion in the upcoming Newlands game.
Krishna under Mhambrey's wings
Prasidh Krishna, following his underwhelming debut, is unlikely to feature in the next Test. Clearly not yet prepared for Test match conditions, Prasidh needed to revisit his basics. He didn't practice bowling to any batters at the nets. Instead, the tall bowler from Bengaluru focused on discovering the appropriate length for bowling in South African pitches.
Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey dedicated considerable attention to Prasidh during his roughly 75-minute net session. Mhambrey established three distinct lengths for the pacer to target. These included two horizontal blue strips at a 10-meter length for short balls, two red markers at a 6-8 meter length for back-of-length deliveries, and two parallel yellow strips at about 4 meters for good length balls.
Prasidh was instructed to consistently hit these lengths during his practice. However, his struggles to do so consistently indicated that he might not be fully prepared for the challenges of top-level Test cricket just yet.
Fit Jadeja goes full throttle
Ravindra Jadeja appeared in excellent physical condition, dispelling concerns about his readiness for the crucial second Test. He bowled alongside Ashwin for nearly 45 minutes, delivering quick balls that made Rohit Sharma play defensive shots in haste. Jadeja also impressed with the bat, showcasing a solid stance and executing some powerful drives.
In contrast, Shardul Thakur experienced a scare during his batting session, receiving a harsh blow to his left shoulder from throwdowns by fielding coach T Dilip. Although he completed the session and was seen with an ice pack sling to mitigate the bruising, it's unclear how long it will take for the pain to subside. Thankfully, it's believed the injury isn't severe enough to require scans.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, meanwhile, had a challenging time at the nets. He appeared agitated, often reprimanding himself loudly after missing shots. He struggled particularly with Raghu's fast-paced throwdowns, resulting in late bat swings and dislodged stumps. On the other hand, Abhimanyu Easwaran seemed more composed in the nets, but despite his better performance, he is not expected to overtake Jaiswal for the opening slot.
(WITH PTI INPUTS)
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