During an optional training session, Shreyas Iyer shows no signs of pain
On the day of India’s final league game in the men’s Asia Cup versus Bangladesh, the atmosphere around the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo was tremendous. While Bangladesh had already been eliminated from the tournament, India was trying to gain momentum leading into the final. As the coaching staff and players disembarked and made their way to the training session, all eyes were on the team bus.
Rahul Dravid, the head coach, Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach, Shardul Thakur, T Dilip, and Tilak Varma were among the key figures who strolled in front of the cameras. The focus, though, was squarely on Shreyas Iyer, who would be the center of attention for the training session.
Iyer has lately suffered a setback in his quest to regain full fitness. He had experienced back spasms while warming up for India’s Super Four match against Pakistan. This was a troubling development because Iyer had been out of play since the March home series against Australia owing to a back problem that eventually necessitated surgery. He had missed the full season of the IPL 2023 and had just recently returned to competitive cricket in the Asia Cup.
Regardless of the current setback, Iyer was determined to demonstrate his preparedness and resilience. He was the busiest of the five players that took part in the optional training session. The focus was on his back, and he went through a series of stretching exercises with the team’s trainer, Rajnikanth. He began jogging for around 15 minutes before transitioning to brief sprints and a stretch-walk.
Iyer then went to the nets, notably the third one, which was the furthest away from the journalists. He faced underarm throwdowns, fast-bowling throwdowns, and net bowler deliveries here. Iyer showed no symptoms of difficulty when getting forward to play beautiful off drives or transferring his weight back to pull and heave the length and back-of-length deliveries.
This batting practice, which took place across two nets, began about 10:55 a.m. and ended when the team’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour, announced the conclusion of training at around 11:40 a.m. Iyer’s performance during this session was nothing short of remarkable, with precise straight drives that had the throwdown specialists and net bowlers taking evasive action.
Rathour’s words of encouragement and applause at the end of the practice indicated the team management’s delight with Iyer’s readiness to return to play. It was unclear if he would be included in the playing XI against Bangladesh or in the final if India advanced. Nonetheless, the fact that Iyer had proved his ability to recover from another setback would definitely impress the team’s management.
While Iyer was practicing his swing, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur batted in pairs in the first net, rotating strikes every six balls. Meanwhile, in the middle nets, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav followed suit. Rathour kept a close eye on Tilak throughout the session, frequently offering words of encouragement and thanks for his efforts.
Tilak turned his focus after about 30 minutes of batting in the nets to bowling his offspin to Ravindra Jadeja in the first net. Throughout his bowling career, he had discussions with India’s bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, about his grip, line and length, and variations. Mhambrey, who previously coached the India Under-19 team in 2020, in which Tilak was a member, provided vital insights and guidance.
Mhambrey said that they had been working together since Tilak’s Under-19 days when discussing Tilak’s improvement as a bowler. Tilak’s bowling potential was discovered by him during the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, and he had been continually focusing on improving his skills since then. Tilak’s bowling abilities were evaluated by the coaching staff in order to acquire trust in his ability.
Mhambrey stressed the necessity of having flexible bowling options, especially in light of changing conditions and opposing lineups. Tilak, as an offspinner, might be a useful alternative, particularly against left-handed batsman. The coaching team was eager to help him improve this area of his game.
While the lineup for the game against Bangladesh has still to be determined, Mhambrey hinted that India may consider other possibilities now that their berth in the final has been assured and a home World Cup is on the horizon.
Finally, the optional training session prior to the men’s Asia Cup match between India and Bangladesh provided vital insights on the team’s preparations and individual players’ readiness. Shreyas Iyer’s courageous return to the nets following a recent setback was a major highlight, showcasing his dedication to recovering full health and contributing to the team’s triumph. Furthermore, the coaching staff’s emphasis on strengthening Tilak Varma’s bowling talents demonstrated their proactive attitude to establishing various squad choices. As India began its voyage in the Asia Cup, the team’s management remained open to experimentation and experimenting with different combinations, while keeping in mind the broader goals on the cricketing horizon.
Whatever Tilak, Jadeja, Shardul, or Suryakumar did, however, became a minor footnote because Iyer was the obvious focal point.
