India arrived in Canberra on Wednesday night to a group of fans waiting for them at the airport. They then turned to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a bit of “how are you”, and under significantly cloudy skies that ended up bringing rain that lasted almost the entire training session, focused on the challenge of playing against the pink ball. India will step up preparations for the second Test in Adelaide with a day-night match against the Prime Minister’s XI, which is scheduled to start on Saturday, but the weather forecast is quite poor. The first day of the two-day game could very well be wiped out.
Perhaps in anticipation of this, India’s batsmen had long and enjoyable sessions to get used to the pink ball and all the antics it is capable of. Yashasvi Jaiswal had barely figured out what shot to play when he got hit on the pads and hated it. Standing there, with his legs crossed and his hand on his hip, he had to listen to Ravindra Jadeja boast. “That ball swung, didn’t it?” There was a hint of surprise in those words, and also of the challenge that now faces this team. Day and night Test matches are sometimes dominated by bowlers, especially in Australia.
“Whether it’s a pink ball or a red ball, the difference is really in the mind,” Nayar said. “Of course there’s a little difference between the two – the color is different, there’s more lacquer – and we were lucky we had six or eight days to get ready. When we were in Perth, too, we were training with the pink ball. [Sharma] I was training [with the pink ball] also. Then we began our preparations. We will continue to focus on our game and do what we need to do.”
Rohit was waiting in the Optus Stadium tunnels, greeting all the Indian players who were returning on a high after last week’s 295-run victory. His return – after becoming a father to a second child – elevated the team even further. Rohit had already started playing against the pink ball in Perth and backed that up in Adelaide, although he looked a little rusty between some of his signature shots – including a leg pull, which he was careful to keep down.
“When Rohit Sharma is around, there is a lot of laughter and jokes,” said Nayar, “So the morale and atmosphere is good. [in spirit] completely. So there wasn’t much of a difference.”
With a chill in the air, music in the speakers (Heat waves by Glass Animals) and an image of Gandalf from Lord of the Rings Frozen on the big screen where all he could do was nod his head back and forth with a satisfied smile (clearly he’s a fan of the band), it felt like a session where the Indian team was slowly getting familiar with the routine then some well-deserved days off.
Rishabh Pant spent virtually all his time running around the outfield. KL Rahul has made 100-yard runs again and again. Virat Kohli attracted the attention of the fans who came to watch and what they saw was a perfectionist who screamed in frustration when his drives resulted in edges, delighted to find him in the middle soon after and gave a thumbs up to Mukesh Kumar when he passed the ball over the edge.
Jaiswal, who perhaps worked harder than most, changed priorities and tried to bowl fast as training came to an end. Coming off a two-step run from the edge of the boundary, he almost had Dhruv Jurel bowled on the way out, his hands flying to his head as the ball skimmed the top of those bright yellow flexi cricket stumps. It didn’t look like he had fun. “Being a fast bowler is hard work, yaar,” he said, prompting much laughter and standing up again to face more pitches.
Alagappan Muthu is sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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