Lucknow nets cues: Rohit faces chin music, Iyer tries a move, Gill looks silky, Kuldeep gives hard yards

Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill (Image Agency) TimesofIndia.com in Lucknow: After a rain-limited start to the ODI in Dharamsala, India’s top-order batsmen – Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer – walked over the nets during the match at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.Over the course of the 90-minute session, split evenly between pace and spin, Gill, Rohit, Ishan and Iyer crushed it at the venue’s two center nets. Shubman and Rohit batted in one net while Ishan and Shreyas manned the other. Indian pacers Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav have poured their hearts out to Gill and Rohit. Rohit Sharma, who has been under the scanner for his fitness, was tested with music on his chin by Prasidh and Gurnoor. Rohit, who looked rushed in the previous matches against the Indian net in Mohali and Dharamsala, managed to overcome a flurry of short balls from the two pacers.Rohit was hit on the wrist by Azmatullah Omarzai in the first ODI in Dharamsala but batted without visible discomfort. However, throughout the session, he never looked like he was back in the groove.

India’s Rohit Sharma (AP Photo)

Brushing off concerns about Rohit’s fitness, Team India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule explained why the 39-year-old’s experience is invaluable to the team, arguing that the veteran prepares for every match as if it were his first.“Rohit Sharma is definitely an experienced player. He is a master cricketer and someone who adds immense value to this team, not only with his bat but also with his leadership qualities which will rub off on all the boys, including Shubman,” Bahutule told reporters.“Having him in this side is very, very important. He understands every game and what is expected of him and the team. He looks forward to every game and the amount of work he puts in is as if he has just started playing,” he added.Meanwhile, his partner Gill looked in a domineering touch. The 26-year-old, who scored a silky unbeaten 84 in the previous match, cut, pulled and drove with elegance.

Indian captain Shubman Gill (PTI Photo)

In addition to the pace quartet, the Chinese Kuldeep Yadav also had an extended session in the net of Rohit and Gill. The wrist spinner, who was not selected for the first ODI, bowled in tandem with the pacers, although he looks unlikely to find a place in the playing XI for the second match either, with left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey impressing on debut in Dharamsala.Dubey pounced at the other net and Bahutule watched closely as he operated against Ishan and Iyer. The fight between Ishan and Dubey was interesting when the left-hander wanted to come on the left-arm spinner. Kishan landed some lusty shots but Dubey kept asking.Bahutule made it clear in the press conference that any left-arm spinner who wants to play for India has to be brave.“It all depends on the game situation. If a left-arm batsman is batting and a left-arm spinner is bowling and the boundary is short, would you want to take a risk or would you want to be bold and go for the wicket?”“The confidence is there. All left-handed players who want to play for India are aware that left-handed batsmen can be controlled. Just give them confidence,” he said.“The more balls at this level, the bigger the performances. They also understand the importance of hitting lefties at the right time and reading the situation well.”Indian vice-captain Shreyas Iyer looked untroubled against the spinners. As he swung the nets and joined the pacers, he asked Prasidh and Gurnoor to repeatedly hit the back of a length.During the 45-minute session, he worked on controlling his stroke. Iyer was dismissed while attempting a stroke in the first ODI. He even extended his stint and asked handgun specialist Raghu to target his ribs. Raghu was relentless over the next 10 minutes and Iyer, with an open attitude, focused only on controlling the pull. He was beaten once or twice, but connected with most of them.After a 25-over-a-side contest that resembled a T20 fixture, India’s top-order could face stiffer scrutiny from the Afghan pacers in Lucknow, where the pitch traditionally offers something for everyone.Lucknow Super Giants coach Justin Langer recently described the Ekan surface as close to the WACA. However, from the look of the pitch, it appeared to be a more typical strip where the pacers could enjoy an early advantage before easing in for the batsmen while still offering some help to the spinners.