New Delhi:
In the build-up to the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, there were a lot of chopping and changing in the Indian cricket team as they looked to consolidate their number four batting position. The 'horses-for-courses' approach during the early days of the Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri regime meant several players could not hold on permanently to their spots. After their semi-final exit following their loss to New Zealand, the Indian team is now focused on doing well in the upcoming World T20 which will be played in Australia in 2020. Having ended the series against South Africa 1-1, the Indian team is desperate for a good show in the upcoming series against Bangladesh which will begin on November 3 in Delhi.
Speaking before the start of the match, India batting coach Vikram Rathour suggested that this time, there might not be too much of tinkering with the squad as India look to achieve some success in ICC events for the first time since 2013.
"You can't be changing too much as well. I agree. But a big tournament is coming so we need to know the core of our team and we need to maintain that core. And in between, try out new players who are coming through. If they work out good for our combination, it will work for our team. In the last series, we deliberately batted first in one game which we lost. That's one are we need to work on. We need to bat better when we bat first. We chase pretty well. Extremely exciting times when you see youngsters coming through, doing well in domestic cricket and come into the Indian team. Missing out top players of course makes a difference but T20 is the only format where you don't miss them too much," Rathour said.
Rohit Sharma Suffers A Blow
India were gearing up for the first Twenty20 International with a practice session at the Arun Jaitley stadium but they suffered a scare when their skipper Rohit Sharma was hit on the thigh while taking throwdowns, forcing him to leave the net session early and not taking further part. Rohit left the nets and it was visible that he wasn't happy with the pace at which the throwdown delivery was hurled at him. The Indian team has a designated a left-arm throwdown expert in Sri Lanka's Nuwan to counter left-arm seamers in the opposition, Mustafizur Rahman in this particular series.
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It was learnt that Rohit was taking treatment for the blow and didn't take further part in the net session. "Rohit is getting treatment and we will update you when we get the details," a team source told PTI.
