Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav personally oversaw a rigorous training session at the R. Premadasa Stadium ahead. As the defending champions finalised their tactics for the pivotal encounter against Pakistan, the primary focus was on neutralising the threat of Pakistan's mystery spinner, Usman Tariq.
Suryakumar Yadav imitates Usman Tariq's bowling action at the nets
The captain took a hands-on approach by mimicking Tariq’s unconventional, stop-start delivery stride during the net session, ensuring his batters could adjust to the irregular tempo before facing the real thing on February 15 in Colombo.
One of the most telling moments of the session involved opener Abhishek Sharma, who was seen working intently against Suryakumar's imitation of the Tariq action. This preparation is seen as a direct response to Tariq's emergence as Pakistan's primary trump card, especially after his three-wicket haul against the USA. Given Abhishek’s role as the aggressor in India’s top order, his ability to handle Tariq’s "out of syllabus" bowling could prove to be the most decisive individual battle of the match.
Despite the recent health concerns that saw him lose weight and miss the Namibia game, Abhishek Sharma appeared to be in prime condition during the drills. Footage from the session captured him batting with aggressive intent, dispatching deliveries with the authority that earned him the Player of the Series award in last year’s Asia Cup. With his fitness confirmed and his sights set on Pakistan's spin-heavy attack, his return provides a timely and powerful boost to the Indian lineup.
Watch the video here:
Abhishek Sharma returns to India's fold
After a concerning week that included a two-day hospital stay in New Delhi for a stomach infection, Abhishek has made a timely return to the Indian camp. The explosive opener had missed the match against Namibia, but any lingering doubts about his fitness were put to rest during a vigorous 30-minute batting session at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Showing no signs of fatigue, Sharma took an aggressive approach against premier spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, signaling he is ready to reclaim his spot at the top of the order for the Pakistan clash.
While Abhishek’s return strengthens India’s batting, the focus in the Pakistan camp remains on their "trump card," Usman Tariq. The 28-year-old spinner has been a revelation in his brief T20I career, claiming 11 wickets in just four matches at a remarkable economy rate of under six runs per over. His unconventional "stop-start" delivery and sidearm action have fueled a major tactical debate, especially after his recent three-wicket haul against the USA.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the hype around Tariq with a clever academic analogy. Likening the spinner to an "out-of-syllabus" question on an exam, the captain noted that while the challenge is unexpected, the goal remains to find a way to answer it rather than leaving the page blank. He reassured fans that the Indian squad has spent significant time practicing against bowlers with similar unorthodox actions, ensuring they won’t be caught off guard by the unusual tempo Tariq brings to the crease.