Vaibhav Tripathi, Colombo
Team India landed in Colombo on August 4, but there was little time to settle in. Within 24 hours, the players were back on the field for a demanding three-and-a-half-hour training session. The following day brought another session of the same length as India continued to put in the hard yards.
Those two days were not just about preparing for the three-day practice game. They were part of a larger plan to get the players accustomed to the conditions and ready for the challenges ahead.
Every player took part in the intense sessions, and the determination was evident. At the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC), there was little sign of anyone taking it easy. Whether in practice or during the match, India continued to work relentlessly, driven by a simple belief: there are no shortcuts to success, especially in red-ball cricket.
If the intensity had not been high, Gurnoor Brar wouldn’t have hit Shubman Gill hard with a pacy delivery. The tall fast bowler was bowling at full tilt when the delivery caused damage to the right hand of the Indian captain. Like Gurnoor, the other pacers, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Auqib Nabi, were also seen bowling at full tilt in demanding conditions at the NCC.
Getting accustomed to the conditions in Sri Lanka was one of the main objectives of arriving early, and for the same reason, the team management spread out the practice hours. During the first practice session, they trained from 10am to 1.30pm local time, while the second session was held in the afternoon from 2pm to 5.30pm. This was followed by a high-octane three-day practice match against SLC XI.
The most notable aspect was India playing for 90 overs on the first two days and taking the game into the evening on the final day of the match.
In recent times, a lot of questions have been raised about India’s preparations. The lack of adaptability cost India the white-ball series against Ireland and England. With an important Test series coming up, the team management was seen preparing the players for all kinds of scenarios and, possibly, all conditions.
Understandably so, as apart from KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, no other Indian players have played Test cricket in the island country.
When the match against SLC XI was going on, the players were rotated while India were fielding, not just to provide them with rest but also to give them more time in the nets. In parallel, India were playing the match and training as well.
Once the match was over, it was assumed that the team would rest on Monday. However, the team had different plans. Apart from Siraj, Prasidh and Gurnoor, all the players were made to train in what was India’s final practice session at the NCC, which once again lasted for more than three hours.
There hasn’t been a drop in intensity from the players. Even the coaching staff have been very vocal and involved in the training. From Rahul’s sweep session to Gill taking throw-downs with a semi-old Kookaburra ball, the players have been meticulous with their preparations.
For India, there has been little room for rest since arriving in Sri Lanka. The players have spent six consecutive days preparing, with three of those days taken up by a full-fledged practice match against SLC XI. The intensity has remained high throughout, underlining just how seriously the team is approaching the challenge ahead.
The stakes could hardly be higher. India cannot afford too many slip-ups if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final alive. Almost every game from here carries significant weight, and even one slip-up could leave them with a mountain to climb.
With so much riding on the series, India’s preparations have reflected their ambition. There has been no easing off, no unnecessary downtime, only a clear focus on being ready for the battle ahead. And with a series win firmly in their sights, India are leaving nothing to chance as they target a clean sweep.
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