Suryakumar Yadav took charge of India’s training session on Saturday night and organized specialized drills as the title holders fine-tuned their strategy for the crucial group clash against Pakistan in Colombo.
Pakistan’s spin sensation Usman Tariq has emerged as a focal point heading into the contest, with his peculiar stop-start pace attracting the attention of the Indian think-tank. The captain personally demonstrated Tariq’s quirky bowling action during practice, allowing his batsmen to familiarize themselves with the erratic pace they will encounter on match day.
KEY BATTLE: ABHISHEK SHARMA VS USMAN TARIQ
Footage released by JioHotstar captured Abhishek Sharma working specifically against Suryakumar’s imitation of Tariq’s action, hinting at a potential decisive confrontation. Abhishek has been instrumental in India’s batting surge at the top while Tariq has quickly become Pakistan’s surprise weapon in their spin-dominated attack despite his recent inclusion.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Explosive the participation of lefties was uncertain after missing the match in Namibia due to a stomach ailment that required treatment at a hospital in New Delhi. However, he looked at his best during his half-hour batting at the R Premadasa Stadium, dispelling fitness concerns.
Abhishek was aggressive against Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, sending deliveries to the boundary with authority – a clear message to Pakistan’s spin brigade.
SURYA CONFIDENT EVEN DESPITE A UNIQUE CHALLENGE
When I asked about Tariq’s unorthodox style, Suryakumar gave a characteristically smart response. “If you get a question off the syllabus in the exams, you don’t let it go, you try to answer it. That’s what we’re going to try to do,” the captain explained.
The 28-year-old Pakistani has been exceptional in his short international stint, securing 11 scalps in four T20I appearances while keeping an economy below six per over. His unconventional approach created a wide debate among cricket analysts.
Suryakumar dismissed any apprehension of facing unusual actions and emphasized India’s thorough preparation. “And it’s not that we don’t practice against bowlers with unusual actions – we will plan and practice accordingly,” he assured.
Although occasional drizzle forced the team to go indoors after part of the practice session, India’s preparation intensity did not waver ahead of Sunday’s high-voltage clash on February 15.
India will take on Pakistan in their third match of the ICC Men’s Under-20 World Cup group stage on Sunday, February 15, with both teams looking to strengthen their position in the tournament.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 14, 2026