In the aftermath of India’s disheartening defeat against South Africa in Centurion, the visitors held their first practice session at the picturesque Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. The focus of the session was undoubtedly on Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, who exhibited his intense commitment during the net practice.
Kohli’s involvement extended beyond the batting drills, as he engaged in a detailed discussion with the Indian head coach about the characteristics of the Newlands pitch for a good 20 minutes. The animated conversation included hand gestures, emphasizing the anticipation of bounce that will be a crucial factor in the upcoming New Year’s Test on January 3. The absence of Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ravindra Jadeja from the optional practice session placed the responsibility on Kohli and Shubman Gill to set the tone. Concurrently, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul honed their skills in separate nets.
Facing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed…
