Focus on India batters to get back into the groove

From mainland South America India's caravan in this ongoing ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup has arrived in the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Here, they will play their remaining two group league matches against Ireland and Uganda respectively at the picturesque Brian Lara Cricket Academy ground on the outskirts of San Fernando City.

And priority right now for them is to plug the loopholes.

Although India registered a comfortable 45-run triumph over South Africa in their opening encounter in the tournament, their top batters barring skipper Yash Dhull failed to get going under testing conditions. Both openers - Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harnoor Singh - couldn't reach the double digits and vice-captain Shaik Rasheed along with all-rounders like Nishant Sindhu and Raj Bawa got out after getting their eyes in. As a result, the team could post a below-par total, 232.

Hence, before heading towards the knockout stages, the team management wants the batters to get into the groove in these two low-key games in Trinidad.

On Tuesday (January 18), on the eve of the Ireland fixture, the boys had a practice session at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy ground. Though the session was curtailed due to a few spells of drizzle but whatever time Dhull and Co. were out there, the focus of the coaching staff primarily remained on the batters. 

The practice pitches had a fair bit of moisture due a spell of rain just before the start of the training and head-coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar asked Harnoor, Dhull and others to bat on those wickets. Though they did not have to face the main fast bowlers like Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Ravi Kumar but the third-choice seamer Bawa was given an extensive bowl. 

And the Himachal boy made the ball to talk. He was beating the outside edge of the bat quite frequently. One ball even struck Dhull on his lower half of the body, but the skipper recovered from the blow and came back in the nets.

The bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule was seen working overtime with Bawa. Though the medium-pacer took four wickets against South Africa, initially the opponent batters went after him. As a result, the medium-pacer was the most expensive Indian bowler on that day, giving away more than seven runs per over in his 6.4 overs of bowling.

In the other nets, spinners had long spells, which suggests that India are unlikely to change its bowling strategy despite a forecast of precipitation (61 % chances of morning shower according to Accuweather) during the game.

VVS Laxman, the newly appointed NCA Director, who is also trusted with the responsibility of overseeing India Under-19's campaign in this Youth World Cup, has arrived in the Caribbean and attended Tuesday's practice session.

Overall, India's qualification for the knockouts seems like a mere formality but the management is keen on extracting the maximum out of these two matches before heading to Antigua.