A determined Mohammed Shami engaged in an extended practice session with bowling coach Morne Morkel as the Indian cricket team commenced full-fledged training ahead of their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh.
The practice took place at the scenic ICC Academy in Dubai on Sunday, with the entire squad participating as per the newly implemented Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Skipper Rohit Sharma, alongside young pacer Harshit Rana and others, took part in the session, with Shami’s training regimen drawing significant attention.
Recently returning to international cricket in T20Is and ODIs against England, Shami sported stretchable knee caps and began with a short run-up to acclimate himself to the pitch conditions. Initially cautious in his movements, he focused on his bowling while some teammates engaged in fitness drills and anticipation-enhancing activities.
Tactical Adjustments and Precision Bowling
Before the batters took to the nets, Shami worked meticulously on adjusting his bowling length. Alongside Morkel, he analyzed the optimal delivery areas by standing at the popping crease and pointing to a specific good-length zone (4m to 6m from the stumps).
He gestured towards the length he intended to exploit, aiming to generate movement off the pitch. Under Morkel’s attentive supervision, Shami increased his intensity and, at times, managed to unsettle the batters with his deliveries. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer took an aggressive approach, sending Kuldeep Yadav and other spinners’ deliveries over the boundary multiple times.
Injury Scare and Innovative Training Drills
During the nets, a minor but concerning moment occurred when Rishabh Pant was struck on the knee, prompting physio Kamlesh Jain to rush to his aid. Hardik Pandya also stepped out of the nets to check on his teammate. Fortunately, the injury was not serious, and Pant resumed batting after the primary training session.
The fielding drills saw Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Pant working with coach T Dilip, suggesting they might not be in contention for the first match against Bangladesh on February 20.
The practice also featured an engaging warm-up drill where players used a racquet to send the ball skyward, with one teammate heading it before another attempted to catch it. This innovative exercise, designed by the Strength and Conditioning coaches, aimed to sharpen reflexes while breaking the monotony of routine training. The session concluded on a high note, with the squad in good spirits and Virat Kohli adding to the light-hearted atmosphere with jokes during the drills.
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