Subhayan Chakraborty from Chennai
Chennai, a city that rarely offers respite from its scorching heat, greeted the Indian cricket team with temperatures soaring to 33 degrees. It felt like 43 degrees, amid a stifling humidity level of 66%. The MA Chidambaram Stadium was the battleground, as Team India began its practice sessions for the World Cup opener against Australia, scheduled for October 8.
Under a blazing sun, Shreyas Iyer was the focal point at the nets. Throw-down specialists, with their right and left-arm deliveries, sought to warm him up with half-volleys and length deliveries. However, it was the occasional bouncer from Mohammed Shami that found Iyer somewhat vulnerable, a chink in his armour that he must address before facing the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Iyer then displayed his prowess against spin. Sweeps flowed effortlessly, but the occasional quick bouncer from Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya reminded one of this particular problem of his.
Iyer spent around 45 minutes at the nets, displaying confidence. However, his session didn’t end there. After a brief drinks break, he returned to the first net in his helmet, without pads and gloves. Why? Head coach Rahul Dravid had a special plan in store. Standing halfway down the pitch, Dravid unleashed a barrage of bouncers at Iyer using a tennis racquet and tennis balls.
The intention was clear — to strengthen Iyer’s weakness against short deliveries, a project that had started some time back, even before his back injury. After a 15-minute chat with Dravid, Iyer came out, having spent a total of 20 minutes tackling the challenge, extending his batting session to over an hour.
After another break, Iyer returned fully padded up. This time, he was greeted by Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour. Together, they orchestrated a rigorous drill for the batter, consisting of a wide array of throw-downs. This exercise covered the spectrum, from quick bouncers to pitched-up deliveries, ensuring Iyer’s readiness for any challenge that may come his way.
Following this intensive session with Dravid and Rathour, Iyer and Pandya swapped nets for the final phase of batting. For the next 30 minutes, the two took turns in taking throw-downs. This extended session not only showcased their determination, but also highlighted the camaraderie within the team as they push each other to reach new heights.
Before that, all cameras were on Virat Kohli. Initially, he faced normal throw-downs without pads, gearing up gradually. Kohli’s session took place in the fourth net, with Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shami and Shardul trying their best to test him.
Shami made an early impact, beating Kohli with a peach of a delivery. Pandya followed up with a fuller one that Kohli left alone. Jadeja managed to outfox him as he attempted a square cut. The maestro defended Kuldeep, trying to get accustomed to the bowlers’ rhythm.
Hardik hit the edge of Kohli’s bat once, while Shami continued to probe. In response, Kohli displayed his trademark cover drive against Pandya. After about 10 minutes, Kohli began settling into his groove, even launching Kuldeep for six over long-on, while acknowledging a clever googly with a thumbs-up. Shami continued to be a formidable adversary. After facing some deliveries from Ravichandran Ashwin, Kohli switched nets.
In the other net, Kohli focused on taking throw-downs, calling it a day after about 40 minutes. The final session witnessed some exquisite cover drives and on-drives from Kohli, who gave a glimpse of what fans can expect during the World Cup. His experience of being part of the 2011 World Cup-winning side adds an extra layer of strength to Team India’s campaign.
Before Kohli had nets, local hero Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishan Kishan initiated proceedings with the bat. Unlike the lofted shots he played in Thiruvananthapuram, Ashwin’s focus was on straight-batted strokes. Bumrah, in his brief stint, mixed defence with some slogging.
Next in line was Rohit Sharma, facing the likes of Jadeja, Siraj and Shardul. Although Siraj managed to beat him a couple of times with some exceptional deliveries, the skipper was in his elements against Kuldeep and Pandya. After approximately 15 minutes, he shifted to taking throw-downs, bringing his session to a close after that.
KL Rahul, Jadeja and Pandya also made their presence felt with the bat, ensuring that the session was not short on intensity. As the countdown to the opening match against Australia continues, the team’s meticulous preparations promise an enthralling spectacle for fans worldwide.