India are firing on all cylinders in the nets ahead of the match against South Africa
After completing his usual relief work with the resistance band and getting a feel for the main pitch, Bumrah went to the nets with bowling coach Morne Morkel. The South African was asked to remove his boots, which were precisely placed around the cracking crease, and Bumrah kept his target locked. The shortstop pitcher issued a few flops; once he was satisfied with the run-up and grip near the landing pad, he pitched in with full effort.It was a masterclass in precision as he bowled repeatedly to hone his art of nailing yorkers at will and received constant feedback from the bowling coach. The two parted ways for short talks after almost every delivery, and Bumrah, like a very patient student, absorbed the advice he was given. Mohammed Siraj, still stuffed, stopped and the two shared a nice grin before Bumrah got to work. By the time he finished, Morkel’s footwear was badly damaged as the ball hit the pair on numerous occasions, but the coach did not complain. It was a job well done and the focus returned to the main site.…
Ahmedabad: From left, India’s Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya during a practice session ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan) (PTI02_20_2026_000445A)
The ring of fire was ignited in its full glory and cries of “Attention! Mind!” echoed through the empty stands as the Indian batsmen, namely Hardik Pandya, opened the barrage of sixes. The right-hander traded nets and partners, but it looked like they were going to be big with almost every delivery. The onslaught started against the Indian unit’s spinners, continued against the seamers and ended up destroying everything the net bowlers and sidearmers sent its way in a two-hour marathon.His teammates had to take cover, and the handful of officials and media workers watching the nets from the overhead screen kept their eyes on the ball. This could well be India’s last full-throttle innings before the start of the Super 8s, with neither player showing any drop in intensity during their time in the middle. From Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilaka and Suryakumar Yadav to bowlers Siraj, Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy and then all-rounders — Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar — they arrived fresh but left sweating after what appeared to be a satisfactory performance.
Ahmedabad: India’s Abhishek Sharma, centre, and head coach Gautam Gambhir, left, work together during a training session ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan) (PTI02_20_2026_000336B)
As expected, the initial focus was on world number one T20I batsman Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to lose in the tournament. With three ducks in as many games, the youngster looked a little lacking in confidence and his late entry into the batting net raised eyebrows. However, it was similar to what he performed on the eve of the match against the USA at the Wankhede, where he was one of the last players to hit. Similar to that pleasant evening in Mumbai, the left-hander first played an extended spell and then focused only on hitting sixes in Ahmedabad on Friday. However, the connections weren’t as sweet, and the baggage of the three ducks seemed to weigh him down a bit.Before proceedings began, coach Gautam Gambhir gave a long pep talk. A fist bump between the two after their animated chat ensured the management had their backs. Bowling coach Morne Morkel echoed the sentiment in a pre-training press conference.
Abhishek is a world class player. We are now in a very important phase of the World Cup and I am quite confident that he will do it
Morne Morkel
“Abhishek is a world-class player. Fortunately, there were guys there who stood with Abhishek, obviously he didn’t score the runs he would have liked. But we are going through a very important phase of the World Cup now and I am pretty sure he will handle it,” Morkel said when asked about the discussions surrounding Abhishek in the Indian camp.“Not so much just for the team, but for all the spectators watching the game because it’s fun and we like to see it. So yeah, I’m pretty sure (he’ll turn it around); he’s hitting the ball well in the net. It’s just a matter of getting it going and going,” added the 41-year-old.Abhishek’s nearly 20-minute knock had everyone glued to the net he was batting into. From coach Gautam Gambhir to captain Suryakumar Yadav and other members of the support staff, everyone has been keeping an eye on the youngster who has had a memorable World T20 campaign so far. The way they all rallied outside the nets explained what the left-hander’s return to form means to the whole group and how much they value his contributions and role in the side.
Ahmedabad: From left, India’s Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Tilak Varma during a training session ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan) (PTI02_20_2026_000442A)
With quality players, it’s always a question of when, not how. There’s very little doubt about their abilities and it’s one sweet pairing everyone’s been waiting for. The wait wasn’t long, Abhishek was able to connect a few shots in his short innings, but the way he left the net and stood close to his practice gear didn’t look pleased. For a batsman who used to send chills down the spines of the opposition, the struggle to return to form seemed real. It was also a reminder of how the sport has evolved and continues to be a great equalizer.On Saturday, the fighting south will have another opportunity to strike the right notes as the rest of the clan are expected to rest in the team hotel while only a few brave the afternoon heat.