If ever a list of Chennai Super Kings’ best dancers were to be drawn up, Dwayne Bravo would sit rather comfortably at the top. Hardly betraying any emotion on his face — if you had failed to spot the reluctant smile that is — the Trinidadian would suddenly break into a little jig during IPL matches, planting delirium amidst the already hysterical fans in the stands.
On a breezy Sunday evening at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Bravo — making his first appearance at the pre-IPL practice session in the city — didn’t wear his dancing shoes. But that didn’t prevent him from pleasing the audience. Smiles of contentment were plastered on the faces of children, who filled their autograph books with the star all-rounder’s scrawl.
Once that was done with, the 29-year-old gathered his paraphernalia and proceeded to launch a few strikes from the nets. His batting session was followed by some ambling around and small talk with the support staff, including fielding coach Steve Rixon. Bravo expectedly didn’t go flat out while bowling, instead delivering the ball gingerly from small, relaxed strides. He was seen receiving some advice from bowling coach Andy Bichel.
Light training
Australian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus was spotted as well doing light training. At the other end of the ground, Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner R. Aushik Srinivas was part of a group of net bowlers operating at Anirudha Srikkanth and S. Badrinath.
Batting in the centre nets were under-19 World Cup winner B. Aparajith and Tamil Nadu batsman Vijay Shankar. For men not thickly set, they seemed to be packing quite a punch. Some of their shots threatened to find the men and women going about their evening walk on the other side of the boundary rope.
The day’s activity gradually came to a trickle with most of the players heading for the dressing room. A practice match is scheduled for Monday evening among members of the squad.
