The highlight might be on India’s high order once they line up in opposition to a assured Pakistan facet in what guarantees to be a blockbuster Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours match on the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, September 10.
The top-order’s frailties in opposition to top-quality opposition in crunch matches have been a recurring theme with India. From the 2017 Champions Trophy last to the latest Group A match of the Asia Cup in opposition to Pakistan, the massive weapons on the high have failed to fireplace when it mattered probably the most for the workforce.
India have acknowledged the priority within the latest previous, however a well-recognized story unraveled in Pallekele when Shaheen Shah Afridi ran by the top-order. The left-arm pacer bought it to swing each methods and went by the defence of captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli. Haris Rauf additionally joined the occasion, eradicating Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer as India slipped to 66 for 4.
Thanks to Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s counter-attacking eighties, India managed to steer out of bother and submit 266 earlier than rain gods performed spoilsport final week.
As it seems, India put within the exhausting yards on the nets in Colombo, making good use of their 5-day break between their win over Nepal and their first Super Fours match.
GILL’S INTENSE TRAINING
Shubman Gill stole the eye throughout the coaching classes India had within the lead-up to the Super Fours match in opposition to Pakistan. India had two non-compulsory coaching classes and a obligatory full-fledged observe session on Friday and Gill was out within the center on all three days.
The younger opener, who has been struggling for giant scores and consistency for the reason that finish of the IPL 2023 season, batted for a very long time in opposition to left-arm throw-down specialist, Nuwan Seneviratne. Gill appears to have been explicit about making ready himself for the problem that Shaheen is predicted to pose within the Super Fours match, because the left-arm pacer has his tail up after having shone in opposition to India in Pallekele.
Gill defined the function of Seneviratne whereas chatting with the press on the eve of the match in Colombo, whereas acknowledging that India batters haven’t got sufficient publicity to high-quality left-arm tempo bowling.
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“We have two right-arm throwdown side-arm specialists, and as a variation, we also have a left-arm side-arm specialist. It helps in various conditions,” Gill stated.
“Before getting to this level, every batter would have faced left-arm bowling at some stage. Whenever you play a new bowler it makes a difference, [more so] because we don’t play Pakistan as often as we do some other teams. Coming up against a quality bowling attack like Pakistan’s, makes a difference,” he added.
Apart from Gill, India additionally had comeback man KL Rahul go to the nets on all three days of coaching in Colombo. While Rahul stored wickets on Friday, he labored meticulously on his batting on the opposite two days. It stays to be seen if Rahul will get the nod to fit into the XI for the big-ticket recreation.
KOHLI VS BUMRAH
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, recognized for his meticulous preparations, equipped for the massive contest, going through Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami who have been going full tilt in opposition to him on the nets.
Jasprit Bumrah warmed up on the nets on Friday, bowing to Rohit Sharma. As he started hitting full steam, it was time for him to bowl at Virat Kohli, who was a first-change on the nets after Rohit walked away. Keeping in thoughts the problem Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are going to pose, Kohli took on Bumrah who didn’t shrink back from testing his former captain on the nets, in accordance with Star Sports.
Both Virat and Rohit confronted throwdown specialists, particularly asking for various strains and lengths in a bid to arrange themselves for the massive problem.
Moreover, India additionally had their bowlers do batting observe on the nets. Kuldeep Yadav batted near an hour whereas Mohammed Siraj was additionally seen getting successful on the nets. In reality, Siraj took to social media to share the pictures of him donning the helmet and batting gear throughout coaching.
India might be hoping to negate the Pakistan pace-bowling menace on the high and construct confidence as they gear up for the last word battle on the World Cup.
Published On:
Sep 10, 2023
