Maintaining a high level of intensity ahead of a clash against a lower-ranked side is one test that cricketers often come across. And if it is a World Cup game, one has to be even more cautious.
India captain Rohit Sharma and colleagues Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer will
need this intensity on Wednesday, more so after a forgettable time out with the bat against Australia in Chennai last Sunday.
Though India managed to win their Cup opener, Rohit, his opening partner Kishan and Shreyas at No.4 made zero contribution with the bat. It was Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s heroics that came to the team’s rescue.
On the eve of their game against Afghanistan, who were thrashed by Bangladesh in their tournament opener last week, the above three and Ravindra Jadeja were the only ones from India’s XI in the previous game to spend some time at the optional training session at the Ferozeshah Kotla nets.
(Clockwise from top) Afghanistan players at their team practice on Tuesday in Delhi; Indian captain Rohit Sharma with head coach Rahul Dravid; Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan; India's Surya Kumar Yadav PTI and pictures shared on X
It certainly reflects the trio’s urgency to regain their flow as quickly as possible. Rohit was hit just above his left knee during the training session, but he did return to bat for a few more minutes.
India will obviously need Rohit with runs under his belt before the face-off against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Kishan and Iyer too need to buck up.
Kishan, however, would have liked to be a little more convincing with the bat in Tuesday’s practice. For Iyer, he must have realised the poor shot he played to throw
his wicket away in the Australia game.
However, he’s unlikely to be replaced by Rahul — absent from the optional session along with the likes of Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin — at No.4 as the team management still trusts him to deliver at that slot.
“KL is doing so well at No.5 and Shreyas has done really well for us at No.4. So, absolutely no temptations (to send Rahul in at No.5),” India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour said at the news conference.
To talk of team combination, one would be keen to find out if India continue with three spinners or bring in either Shardul Thakur or Mohammed Shami in place of senior off-spinner Ashwin. This Kotla pitch does have a fair share of grass cover.
Gill health
Opener Shubman Gill, who’s out of Wednesday’s game too, is still in the Chennai hotel after being discharged from the hospital on Tuesday morning. Because of a low platelet count, Gill had to be hospitalised late on Monday evening.
“He was hospitalised, but that was more as a precaution. He’s recovering well and being monitored by the medical team.
“He’s looking good, actually,” Rathour said, when asked about Gill’s return.
