On Monday morning, Virat Kohli's exuberant cheer echoed through the practice nets as he slog-swept a ball from Jasprit Bumrah, a feat that could have easily sent the ball for six. His energetic celebration, akin to the way he would celebrate a century in a match, underscored the rarity and personal satisfaction of the moment. Given Bumrah's prowess as a bowler—having conceded only 33 sixes in 65 T20Is and just one in this World Cup—Kohli's dramatic reaction, although exaggerated, spoke volumes about his delight.
The Indian squad, having arrived in Barbados the previous night, plunged into a rigorous three-hour practice session at the Kensington Oval on Monday. What was initially an optional session turned into an all-hands-on-deck drill. Kohli led the charge, being the first to bat and engaging with a variety of bowlers, including Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Bumrah, along with several local spinners.
Kohli’s determination to practice intensely under the hot sun was evident. In a tournament of immense importance, he has yet to deliver a significant performance. His commitment to preparing for the upcoming challenges was clear from his body language, as he methodically played a wide range of shots, particularly focusing on the slog-sweep, a stroke that has been highly productive for him in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Despite the Kensington Oval’s reputation for slow, spinner-friendly pitches, as seen even when Australia surpassed 200 runs against England, the Indian team prepared meticulously. They included several local spinners in the net session to adapt to the conditions. Players concentrated on optimising their shot selection, practising moves like stepping out to the spinners, to enhance their scoring opportunities.
Kohli concentrated on his slog sweep and executed powerful shots against fast bowlers. Rishabh Pant honed his sweeps, reverse sweeps, and lofted cover drives, while Suryakumar Yadav showcased his full repertoire. Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja focused on hitting range, with Hardik Pandya also participating in similar drills on the main ground.
The bowlers concentrated on maintaining tight lines around the stumps, practicing yorkers, and wide deliveries. Kuldeep Yadav bowled extensively, suggesting his potential inclusion in the upcoming game, possibly replacing one of the pacers. Besides his long bowling stint, Kuldeep also took part in catching drills, focusing on high catches in the outfield, which was a major aspect of the practice session.
India’s first Super 8 game is set against Afghanistan on June 20 at the Kensington Oval.
Super 8s Schedule (Local Time)
June 19:
- USA vs South Africa, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (10:30)
- England vs West Indies, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia (20:30)
June 20:
- Afghanistan vs India, Kensington Oval, Barbados (10:30)
- Australia vs Bangladesh, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (20:30)
June 21:
- England vs South Africa, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia (10:30)
- USA vs West Indies, Kensington Oval, Barbados (20:30)
June 22:
- India vs Bangladesh, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (10:30)
- Afghanistan vs Australia, Arnos Vale, St Vincent (20:30)
June 23:
- USA vs England, Kensington Oval, Barbados (10:30)
- West Indies vs South Africa, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (20:30)
June 24:
- Australia vs India, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia (10:30)
- Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Arnos Vale, St Vincent (20:30)