The Indian cricket team has arrived in Dubai, gearing up for their first ICC Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh on Thursday. After a 3-0 series whitewash against England, the team was in high spirits as they trained at Dubai’s ICC Academy. Big names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and others, along with the coaching staff, were seen practising intensely, with a relaxed yet focused vibe. BCCI recently uploaded a video from the practice session, where players are seen practising.
Rohit Sharma’s advice
Rohit Sharma was overheard advising a teammate, “Time the ball. If you beat that cover fielder, it’s a boundary.” The session featured various drills, including a catching session led by Rohit using a tennis ball and racquet. The aim was to prepare players for unexpected ball trajectories; Kohli eventually caught the ball after a bounce off a player’s helmet.
Hardik Pandya doing pep talk with himself
Hardik Pandya is expected to play a key role in India’s Champions Trophy hopes. During practice, he reminded himself, “Hardik, yeh bat ke neeche hai. Agar maarna hai toh maar ke ja,” pushing himself to execute better. He also shared batting tips with Washington Sundar on transferring body weight for effective strokes.
Abhishek Nayar advises Pant and Rana
Abhishek Nayar, part of the coaching staff, organised the net sessions, explaining, “There are three nets in the centre. Post whatever you have done; if you want to do something extra, you’ve got two nets out back.” As practice progressed, glimpses of excellence were seen, like Harshit Rana hitting a long shot, earning applause even from Rishabh Pant. Despite Pant’s initial praise, Nayar asked Rana to tone down the aggression, with Pant humorously agreeing with the coach.
India’s Champions Trophy campaign kicks off against Bangladesh, followed by a crucial match against Pakistan. Their last ICC encounter against Pakistan in Dubai ended in a significant defeat during the 2021 T20 World Cup, adding more anticipation to this upcoming clash.
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