Vaibhav Tripathi in Dubai
After a well-earned two-day break, Team India were back in action, gearing up for what promises to be a high-voltage clash against New Zealand. The day began with a heartwarming gesture as Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, and Arshdeep Singh were the first to arrive at the ICC Academy, not just to train but to share the joy of cricket with schoolchildren . As part of ICC’s Cricket for Good community program, they played, laughed, and handed out food hampers, creating memories beyond the boundary ropes.
Once the off-field commitments concluded, the focus shifted to the nets. The team bus rolled in, carrying all the players except for one notable absentee, Shubman Gill, raising a few eyebrows. Meanwhile, there was a familiar face rejoining the squad. Morne Morkel, back from South Africa, and Rishabh Pant, fresh from recovery, stepped onto the field, adding a sense of completeness to the camp.
The moment Pant alighted from the bus, a young fan’s voice pierced through the air. “Pant! Pant!” The wicketkeeper-batter turned, walked over, signed an autograph, and when asked about his health, he simply smiled and said, “Better hai.” A brief yet reassuring response.
Once in the nets, Pant wasted no time. He padded up and got straight to business. After a few measured strokes along the ground, he shifted gears, launching into his trademark big shots. His footwork was fluid, his timing crisp, and there were no signs of rust, despite this being his first practice session post-illness.
Right beside him, Shreyas Iyer was in a league of his own. He wasn’t just batting, he was dominating. Every delivery, whether from pacers or spinners, was dispatched with authority. A journalist on the sidelines quipped that if one looked away even for a second, they might find the ball hurtling toward them. Iyer has been India’s most impactful batter after Shubman Gill since the England ODI series, and his form showed no signs of slowing down.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli took a different approach, opting to face the side-arm throwdown specialists and a few local net bowlers. Focused and precise, he fine-tuned his strokes, sharpening his game in his own way.
Rohit Sharma chose to skip batting in the nets, opting instead for light warm-ups. While murmurs of a hamstring concern floated around, his movement suggested there was little to worry about. Hardik Pandya, on the other hand, had a focused session, fine-tuning his slog-over hitting with sharp, calculated strokes.
Any lingering doubts about an injury scare were put to rest when Mohammed Shami took his turn with the ball. He was in his element, making one delivery rear off a length and beat Pant on the pull, while another squared up the left-hander entirely. After his fiery spell, Shami engaged in an extended discussion with chief selector Ajit Agarkar and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, following a brief chat with Morne Morkel, who closely observed India’s pace spearhead.
Though Shami bowled with intensity, he was notably absent from India’s latest training drill – the helmet-catching exercise. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh steamed in at full throttle, giving further indication that he could feature in India’s pace attack should the team opt to manage Shami’s workload. Alongside him, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav worked in tandem, spinning their webs under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff. Axar Patel, too, got a late spell in.
Despite both teams already securing their spots in the semi-finals, neither India nor New Zealand is willing to let momentum slip. This clash carries weight, not just as a dress rehearsal for the knockouts but as a statement of intent. For India, the quick turnaround from their final league game to the semi-final leaves no room for complacency. Preparation must be precise, every scenario accounted for.