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The Shubman Gill-led India National Cricket Team is all set to return to ICC World Test Championship (WTC) action after almost nine months. They are all set to face Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series starting on August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle.
This test series is very important for India because they are currently fifth in the WTC points table, and captain Shubman Gill would want his team to grab all those points on the Sri Lanka tour. Amid this, a 10-team BBL is on the cards as Cricket Australia considers expansion.
India step up Sri Lanka preparations with special plans
The India National Cricket Team has already started their preparations in Sri Lanka. They recently played a three-day warm-up match and won it. The next day, the touring side held an optional practice session at the Nondescripts Cricket Club.
Almost the entire squad attended the session at the Nondescripts Cricket Club, with only Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar missing.
Well, Shubman Gill was the main attraction during the training session. The Indian captain spent extra time preparing for reverse swing, which could become a big challenge during the Test series in Sri Lanka.
Shubman Gill’s big plan for Sri Lanka Tests revealed
As reported by RevSportz, the Indian team management asked the ground staff at the Nondescripts Cricket Club to prepare the same pitch that India used during their recent practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI.
The pitch was kept in a rough condition and made to look more like a fourth-day Test wicket. It had cracks and was expected to offer conditions where an older ball could start moving in the air. Amid this, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi brand endorsements: Full list of brands backing 15-year-old.
The main aim was to help Indian batters improve their defense, footwork, and ability to handle reverse swing before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Shubman Gill takes special 20-minute session to prepare for reverse swing
After completing his normal warm-up, Shubman Gill went to the nets for a special 20-minute throw-down session. He faced three throw-down specialists—Nuwan Seneviratne, Raghavedra Dwivedi, and Dayanand Garani. They had new, old, and semi-old Kookaburra balls available for the practice.
Gill specifically asked them to use semi-old balls. He wanted to face the type of movement that could come from a reverse swing during the Test. After finishing the throw-down session, Gill moved to the center wicket. Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi also bowled to Gill with a semi-old ball.
Why is India worried about reverse swing?
India have taken different types of Kookaburra balls to Sri Lanka as part of their preparation. Actually, conditions in Sri Lanka can make the ball become old and rough faster because of the dry weather and abrasive pitches.
The green outfields can help the new ball stay in good condition for a longer time in Australian conditions. But Sri Lankan pitches and conditions can damage the ball more quickly.
Once the ball becomes old and rough, reverse swing can become difficult for batters to handle. India clearly wants their players to be ready for this situation.
