Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has laid down a simple challenge for his players ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka: leave nothing to chance.
As India prepares for a crucial three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo from Friday, Gambhir wants every player to squeeze the maximum out of the preparations before the opening Test in Galle on August 15.
advertisement
In a video shared by the BCCI, the head coach urged the players to push themselves over the next few days so that they walk into the series with answers to every challenge Sri Lanka throws at them.
“We know what is in front of us. We can do volume, we can push our limits, we can tick all the boxes and come 15th morning whether we are batting first or bowling first we will be absolutely ready with every answer to every question thrown at us.
“So make sure to tick all the boxes from now on,” Gambhir told the squad.
India’s plans, however, could face an early setback, with intermittent rain forecast in Colombo over the next few days.
SPIN UNDER SPOTLIGHT
The warm-up fixture carries added significance because it offers India’s batters a valuable opportunity to adjust to Sri Lankan conditions before the series begins.
Spin proved to be India’s biggest weakness during recent home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the challenge is unlikely to get any easier against Sri Lanka’s experienced slow-bowling attack.
While skipper Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal had already begun preparing against spin before leaving for Colombo, Gambhir knows practice on Sri Lankan pitches is irreplaceable.
The three-day game should give India’s top order a clearer understanding of the pace, bounce and turn they can expect in Galle, where the first Test gets underway on August 15.
NEW-LOOK INDIA
India’s squad also faces another challenge: unfamiliar conditions.
The last time India played a Test series in Sri Lanka was in 2017, and only KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav from the current squad have previous experience of playing red-ball cricket on the island.
The bowling attack, too, has a fresh look. With Jasprit Bumrah sidelined through injury, Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace department alongside Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain.
Apart from Siraj and Kuldeep, much of the attack remains relatively inexperienced in Sri Lankan conditions, making the warm-up game an important dress rehearsal before the series begins.
There are encouraging signs, though. Gurnoor Brar and Saransh Jain impressed during India A’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, enjoying productive outings in Galle. Another opportunity to bowl in similar conditions should further strengthen their confidence ahead of the Tests.
For Gambhir, the equation is straightforward. India cannot control the weather, but they can control their preparation. With a young squad, an inexperienced pace attack and familiar questions around batting against spin, the head coach wants his players to ensure there are no regrets when the first ball is bowled in Galle.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
