In the lead-up to the eagerly anticipated Asia Cup 2023, Team India is sparing no effort in their preparations for the tournament set to commence on August 30. Their inaugural match against traditional rivals Pakistan is scheduled for September 2 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. To fine-tune their readiness, the squad has congregated in Alur for an intensive conditioning camp that encompasses a variety of fitness regimes.
A cohort of 15 prominent bowlers, featuring talents like Umran Malik and Yash Dayal, has been enlisted to facilitate the Indian batsmen’s readiness for the tournament. During a rigorous practice session on Friday, one of the standout moments was the resolute efforts of the returning KL Rahul, who had been sidelined due to injury for several months. Although he is still nursing a slight discomfort, it is anticipated that he will achieve full fitness in time for the competition.
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As reported by the Times of India, Rahul embarked on Friday’s training under the guidance of conditioning coaches. After comprehensive warm-up exercises and an elaborate fitness regimen, the right-handed batsman engaged in an extended batting practice, notably exhibiting no indications of discomfort.
Day 1 practice session of the Indian team at Alur. [Star Sports]
– 6 hours of practice
– Payers were batting as pair: Rohit & Gill, Kohli & Iyer, Hardik & Jadeja (Around 1 hour each)
– KL Rahul batted for long time
– Sai Kishore, Kuldeep was bowling a lot to Kohli
– 10-12 net… pic.twitter.com/JngMYLH6IO— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 25, 2023
Meanwhile, Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill trained as a duo, followed by Virat Kohli’s partnership with Shreyas Iyer. Reports also indicate that spinners Sai Kishore and Kuldeep Yadav provided a formidable challenge for Kohli during net practice.
The return of Iyer and Rahul is poised to fortify India’s middle-order, a segment that has exhibited vulnerabilities. However, the absence of game-time before the tournament remains a significant concern. While they have undertaken match simulations during their tenure at the National Cricket Academy, a genuine match experience in the 50-over format continues to elude them.
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Iyer’s last One Day International (ODI) appearance for India took place in January against Sri Lanka. Subsequently, he grappled with a recurring back ailment, causing him to miss the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 and subsequent fixtures. As for Rahul, his thigh injury, incurred during an IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Lucknow, has kept him off the field. His most recent 50-over appearance was against Australia in March.
