Shubman Gill was seen in an upbeat mood at India’s training session in Canberra on Friday as he looked to build confidence ahead of the second Test against Australia. After spending the initial moments freestyling with big drives and crisp backfoot punches during throwdown drills, Gill shifted focus to perfecting his defensive technique with the help of India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate.
Despite an earlier thumb injury in Perth, which had caused some concern, Gill appeared in good shape. He was observed facing throwdowns from a short distance, gradually moving to higher-intensity drills, including facing full-speed deliveries from pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal. Speaking about his recovery, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar remarked, “He is batting comfortably, and from what I have seen, it looks like he’ll be ready for match action soon.”
India’s preparations for the upcoming day-night Test match in Adelaide were well underway in the overcast conditions at Manuka Oval, where the team focused on adapting to the challenges of playing with the pink ball. Though the forecast for the practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI on Saturday suggested rain might disrupt the plans, the team made the most of their time in the nets.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, new to the Test scene, experienced the challenge firsthand, getting rapped on the pads early in the session, much to the amusement of his teammates, especially Ravindra Jadeja, who cheekily pointed out the swing on the delivery. Jaiswal, standing with his legs crossed, seemed keen to adjust quickly, but it was clear that adapting to the pink ball would be a mental and technical challenge for the young batsman.
The Indian team’s focus on the pink ball has been consistent, with players having already trained with it in Perth. “Whether it’s a pink ball or a red ball, the difference is really in the mind,” Nayar explained. “There is a slight difference in the ball’s color and lacquer, but we are well-prepared with the time we have.”
India has played only four pink-ball Tests so far, the most recent being in March 2022. The day-night format, often more challenging for batsmen, especially under lights, will provide another test for the team as they look to build on their recent dominant performance in Perth. India’s morale seems to be high, with players like Rohit Sharma, who returned to the team after the birth of his second child, injecting energy into the squad.
The training session also saw key players such as Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in action. Kohli, ever the perfectionist, was seen expressing frustration after mistimed drives, before turning it around with a well-timed shot. Rahul, meanwhile, continued his fitness regime with 100-yard sprints across the outfield.
As the session wrapped up, Jaiswal, who had spent much of the day batting, took to fast bowling, attempting a two-step run-up from the boundary. Although his delivery just missed the stumps, it provided comic relief as he admitted, “Being a fast bowler is hard work, yaar,” to the laughter of his teammates.
With only a few days left before the second Test in Adelaide, India’s preparation has been thorough. Despite the weather challenges, the team remains focused on the task ahead, gearing up to face Australia in the day-night Test, with hopes of continuing their strong momentum from the opening match of the series.
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