The flamboyant Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is currently focussing on his bowling variations, especially slower deliveries while senior opener Shikhar Dhawan tackled short-pitched throwdowns during Team India’s first practice session at the Old Trafford on the eve of its three-match T20 series against England.
With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the T20 series due to a thumb injury which he sustained in the first T20I against Ireland, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will have to shoulder additional responsibility in the death overs. The Indian team management will now be expecting from Hardik to be a bit more economical and hence try out more variations against the smashers like Jason Roy, Jos Buttler an, Jonny Bairstow.
At the nets on Sunday, Pandya spent a considerable time bowling to Rohit Sharma. He was seen mixing slow off-cutters with usual length deliveries. He also took time to time feedback from the Indian vice-captain. Specialist pacers Umesh Yadav and Siddarth Kaul were sharpening their skills of blockhole deliveries.
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In a separate net, Shikhar devoted some extra time to counter short-pitched deliveries. He took throwdowns with a heavy plastic ball in order to counter the extra bounce. He then also practiced his the trademark pull shots against tennis ball throwdowns.
Despite Washington Sundar’s ankle injury while playing football, the Indian team continued with its warm-up game. By some measure, skipper Virat Kohli’s preparation was the most intense. The skipper failed with his bat in India’s 2-0 series win against Ireland but no one is reading too much into the matter.
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Virat negotiated throwdowns by assistant coach Sanjay Bangar as the deliveries were pitched at different lengths channeled on and outside the off-stump. He pulled the short deliveries with aplomb and played square shots as well, but his most positive responses came when he drove forward to play the good length deliveries.
Thereafter, against spinners, Kohli played the late cut and interestingly enough, brought out the reverse sweep just like Dhawan had done during his session. In the last bit, he worked with Kaul and dug out some quick yorkers that the paceman bowled, visibly impressed by his efforts.
