Snehasis Mukherjee in Indore
Only one player attended Team India’s optional practice session on Thursday (October 16) at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. It was none other than skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
After an intense, full-squad session a day ago, Harmanpreet turned up for an hour and a half of batting practice filled with intent and focus. India face England in a massive game on October 19.
The most unique part of her training was the use of tiles and plastic balls. Two tiles — the larger one black and the smaller white — were placed together on the pitch. A throwdown specialist was asked to hit the plastic balls on a chosen spot in that area so the ball skidded and hurried onto her.
The key was the line and length where the tiles were placed. At first, they were set around the middle stump. As the session went on, they were gradually shifted towards off stump and then slightly outside — targeting the tricky “corridor of uncertainty.”
Initially, she faced deliveries pitched just short of a good length, an area that has troubled her recently. She did struggle on a few occasions, but showed determination, putting in a solid effort to find rhythm and control.
In the next phase, she asked the throwdown specialist to go shorter, so she could work on backfoot punches, short-arm jabs, and glances towards the leg side. Before wrapping up, she again faced a few short-of-a-good-length balls and added some power-hitting practice, one of which even landed in the upper stands.
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A few net bowlers watched and grabbed catches near the boundary line, enjoying the skipper’s striking display. Throughout the session, head coach Amol Muzumdar closely monitored every detail, observing her footwork and timing.
With only 71 runs in four innings so far in this World Cup, Harmanpreet has not lived up to her high standards. She has looked promising during the 20s, but fallen to similar dismissals repeatedly. This focused session showed her hunger to fix those flaws, her determination to bounce back, and her intent to lead from the front when India face England after suffering two successive defeats.
Also Read: Competitive Banter, Sharp Focus: India’s preparation peaks ahead of England showdown