Rohit Sharma Tested By Short Balls In Lucknow Nets Before Second ODI

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Cues from Lucknow nets: Rohit faces chin music, Iyer rehearses the pull, Gill looks silky, Kuldeep puts in the hard yards cricket news image
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India’s top-order batters Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer trained at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow after the rain-curtailed opening ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala, with Rohit facing a focused short-ball examination in the nets. The session lasted about 90 minutes and was split between pace and spin, according to a Times of India report from Lucknow.

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Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma batted together in one centre net, while Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer worked in the other. India pacers Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav bowled to Gill and Rohit during the pace phase.

Rohit negotiated the bouncer plan but did not look fully fluent

Rohit Sharma was tested with short-pitched bowling by Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar. Rohit had been hit on the wrist by Azmatullah Omarzai during the first ODI in Dharamsala, but Rohit batted in Lucknow without any visible discomfort.

Rohit managed the short-ball spell, but the report noted that Rohit did not appear completely back in rhythm through the session. The observation follows earlier net sessions in Mohali and Dharamsala where Rohit had also looked hurried.

India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule dismissed fitness concerns around Rohit and said the senior batter’s value to the side came through both batting and leadership. Bahutule described Rohit as an experienced player and said Rohit’s preparation remained strong before matches.

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Gill looked settled after unbeaten 84 in Dharamsala

Shubman Gill came into the Lucknow session after scoring an unbeaten 84 in the previous fixture. Gill cut, pulled and drove during the net session, and the report described the India captain as looking in strong touch against pace and spin.

Kuldeep Yadav also had an extended bowl in the net used by Gill and Rohit. Kuldeep was not selected for the first ODI, and the report said Kuldeep appeared unlikely to enter the playing XI for the second fixture because left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey had impressed on debut in Dharamsala.

Iyer rehearsed the pull after first-ODI dismissal

Shreyas Iyer looked comfortable against spin before moving to the pace net. Iyer then asked Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar to keep hitting a back-of-a-length area as he worked on controlling the pull shot.

Iyer had been dismissed while attempting the pull in the first ODI. After the main session, Iyer extended his practice and asked sidearm specialist Raghu to target the rib area for about 10 minutes, with Iyer using an open stance and focusing on control.

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Dubey’s left-arm spin stayed under close watch

Harsh Dubey bowled in the net used by Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, with Sairaj Bahutule observing the left-arm spinner closely. Kishan looked to attack Dubey and struck a few big shots, but Dubey continued to challenge the left-hander.

Bahutule said left-arm spinners trying to play for India needed to be brave when bowling to left-handed batters. Bahutule added that such bowlers needed confidence to control left-handers and to read game situations correctly.

Ekana pitch may offer early help before easing out

The first ODI in Dharamsala was reduced to 25 overs per side and resembled a T20-style contest. The second fixture in Lucknow could give Afghanistan’s pacers a longer opportunity to test India’s top order if conditions assist seam early.

The Ekana Stadium surface has often been discussed as a pitch with something for different disciplines. Lucknow Super Giants coach Justin Langer recently described the surface as close to the WACA, but the report said the match pitch looked more typical, with possible early help for pacers before easing for batters and still offering some assistance to spinners.