Sweat streaks, tired smiles and an intense approach were all on view as M.S. Dhoni’s men did the hard yards at the Colts Cricket Club here on Tuesday. The rigorous training schedule was part of the long prelude to Friday’s ICC World Twenty20 Super Eights match against Australia.
Pepped up by their 90-run triumph against England, the Indians hit the straps early on to the accompaniment of Bollywood numbers from their iPod speakers.
Incidentally Virender Sehwag opted to rest after his initial rounds of stretching, shuttle runs and boxing. Last week, the opener, was struck on his right hand during practice by a local bowler Sachin Peres.
Dhoni had reiterated that Sehwag was not sidelined because of any injury but merely ‘rested’ during the game against England.
However with Sehwag skipping nets, his fitness status remains hazy. The opener along with R. Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh, was also subjected to a random dope test.
“It’s a routine procedure at every major ICC event and nothing more than that,” said Dr. R.N. Baba, the Indian team’s media manager.
Ashwin and Rohit Sharma batted first before Irfan Pathan padded up for a long outing. Meanwhile Zaheer Khan bowled for 30 minutes against Rohit, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. The Indian spearhead ran in with intent and he will be a key factor against Australia.
While the rest did their bit, there was minor scare when Kohli’s drive bounced off a net pole and slammed into Ashok Dinda’s ankle.
The seamer resumed his bowling without any discernible signs of discomfort. Soon bowling coach John Dawes kept Gambhir and Raina on a tight leash with short-pitched stuff during the throw-downs.
As usual the last laugh belonged to Dhoni.
The Indian skipper, who once slumped on the massage table after the extensive shuttle runs, was in his elements with the bat and seven balls were lost in the resultant mayhem.
