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Belfast was forgettable, but the moment India touched down in Durham, they looked as intense as ever. Even from the outside, the energy was palpable. There was only one practice session as it was a short turnaround between matches for the Men in Blue.
Shreyas Iyer looked in the zone during the practice session. The Indian captain, after twin failures in Ireland, needed a big score as he had not only lost the series but had also failed to make a significant contribution. In the series opener, after the early dismissals of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, Shreyas rose to the occasion and delivered for his team. He smashed 68, including a sublime six over the covers. That shot signalled that he was in supreme touch, as was Abhishek Sharma.
The world’s No. 1 ranked T20I batter struck his second half-century of the UK tour, and his second in three innings. Although Abhishek is usually the last to bat in practice, he is invariably the first to take the attack to the opposition on match days.
His opening partner, Sanju Samson, appears to be struggling against the moving ball. Waiting in the wings is a teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has taken world cricket by storm. The swashbuckling batter looks ready for the highest level. However, the team management continues to show faith in the current World Cup-winning combination. What happens in Manchester is anybody’s guess in regard to the playing XI.
Tilak Varma did register a half-century but could not get the job done in the second T20I against Ireland. The newly appointed vice-captain has not looked fluent on this UK tour, and both his strike rate and his game against spin remain concerns heading into the next T20I.
India posted a competitive 189 in the first T20I before persistent rain washed out the entire fixture. What caught the eye in Durham was the team’s selection, with India opting for three spin-bowling options. Varun Chakaravarthy did not get an opportunity to bowl because of the rain, and the same was true for the returning Ravi Bishnoi.
It will be interesting to see what combination India opt for in Manchester.
Speaking of Manchester, the Indian team travelled to the city by coach yesterday. They will be hoping the clouds do not follow them from Durham and that they finally get a full game. However, the weather forecast for match day is not encouraging.
The Indian team will have only one practice session on Friday. They will hope the rain stays away so they can acclimatise to the conditions quickly, something they were unable to do in Ireland.
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