Indian batsmen (Credit: OpenAI)
Kolkata: The Indian team suffered a crushing defeat in the first match of the Test series against South Africa. In Kolkata, Team India's batsmen had no answer to South Africa's spin bowling. Set a target of 124 runs in the fourth innings, South Africa bundled out India for just 93 runs. The second Test between the two teams is scheduled to be held in Guwahati from November 22nd. Team India is practicing in Kolkata ahead of that.
During a three-hour optional practice session at Eden Gardens, Sai Sudarshan and Dhruv Jurel practiced batting against spin bowlers wearing only one pad. Both batted for a considerable amount of time. Sai Sudarshan is the frontrunner to replace the injured Shubman Gill in the playing eleven. He removed his right pad and approached the ball with long, determined strides and soft hands.
The reason for batting with one pad is that when there is full protection, batsmen often move the pad forward and the bat remains behind. Hitting the pad increases the risk of LBW. When there are no pads, the batsman will move the bat forward to avoid injury. This is why batsmen try to play with the bat. Coaches believe that this improves decision-making against balls that turn or bounce sharply.
Right-handed batsman Dhruv Jurel used the same one-pad strategy when practicing his reverse sweep. Without a front pad, he had to use his right foot and body weight instead of sweeping from the crease. This shot is a crucial release option for India on turning pitches.
This practice session was optional. Only six players showed up, with India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja batting the longest. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak specifically observed Sudarshan for a long time. He didn't seem completely stable against the fast bowlers. Akash Deep repeatedly touched his outside edge. This suggests that including Sudarshan in the playing eleven could be a big risk.
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