Harshit - Saturday, Sep 06, 2025India Begin Asia Cup Prep as Samson-Jitesh Call Pending — with Bumrah and Hardik going full tilt in the nets, and Suryakumar Yadav easing back into rhythm after surgery.
“Stiff legs,” teased Shubman Gill as Jasprit Bumrah sprinted, dived, and cut angles with unmatched energy at the ICC Academy Oval. Much to the delight of fielding coach T. Dilip, Bumrah even jokingly waved Gill away while staying locked into his drills. Despite trainer Adrian Le Roux’s reminders to maintain “75% intensity,” Bumrah went full throttle — even bowling a dream nip-backer to Gill after he had just driven one through the covers.
Sanju Samson, meditative after a sweaty 30-minute batting stint, watched calmly as Jitesh Sharma went through rigorous wicketkeeping drills. Their shared sessions at the nets fueled curiosity — both are competing for the same wicketkeeper-batter spot in India’s Asia Cup XI. Jitesh looked eager to make up for lost time since his last competitive game in June, while Samson, fresh from four back-to-back Kerala Cricket League matches, chose a measured approach.
Even as temperatures touched 38°C past 7 pm, India’s batters rotated in long net sessions. Gill batted alongside Suryakumar Yadav, who is finding his rhythm after sports hernia surgery, while Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Samson had earlier gone on the attack with heavy bats. Fitness routines — stretches, shuttle runs, and high-knee drills — kicked off the day before players switched to batting and bowling tests.
Hardik Pandya, sporting freshly dyed blonde hair, bowled nonstop for 20 minutes at high pace, matching Bumrah’s intensity. Meanwhile, Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma received extra attention from bowling coach Morne Morkel. Dube’s action and delivery stride were under close scrutiny, while Abhishek showcased a mix of left-arm spin, wrist spin, and a backspinner to impress the staff.
While Bumrah and Hardik went all out, other seamers like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana were rotated carefully, focusing more on mobility and fitness after recent Duleep Trophy outings. India’s workload management plan was evident, ensuring bowlers were eased into the Asia Cup grind without overexertion.
As the clock neared 9 pm, India’s first training session drew to a close. It wasn’t overly intense or revealing, but it ticked the right boxes — shaking off rust, rekindling team spirit, and setting the stage for the opener against UAE next week.
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