IND vs NED: Team India undergoes practice session, special focus on lower order ahead of India vs Netherlands Warm-Up game | World Cup 2023

IND vs NED: Team India undergoes practice session, special focus on lower order: Ahead of the India vs Netherlands warm-up game, the Indian team took an optional practice session, after landing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. With a special focus on lower-order batting, the practice session went ahead at the St. Xaviers College KCA Cricket Ground.

With Team India looking to strengthen its lower-order game, especially with no Axar Patel on the side, special emphasis was given to the batting of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. While Jadeja's bat has been silent for a while now, Ashwin hasn't played a lot of cricket in the last few months. The two all-rounders were followed by Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav. All the batters tried to take on the bowlers in their own way.

While Ravichandran Ashwin used most of its sweeps and reverse sweeps, Shardul Thakur played lofted shots to take on the bowler.

It is noteworthy that Team India's lower order has been Achilles heel for quite some time now. And with the exclusion of Axar Patel, the concern grew to a large extent. None of the lower-order batters have performed consistently in the past year or so, but there have been some odd performances from the individuals.

Team India will look to handle the lower-order batting issue in the warm-up game against the Netherlands on 3rd October at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

IND vs NED: KL Rahul performs special wicketkeeping drill

Besides Indian lower-order batters, wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul was also given priority during the practice session held on Monday at the St Xaviers College KCA Cricket Ground. Rahul was seen keeping with tyre in front of the wickets to reduce his wicketkeeping failures.

Notably, KL Rahul was criticized during the IND vs AUS three-game ODI series for his frequent misfields while wicketkeeping. Although one of the wicketkeeping failures resulted in the run-out of the opposition batter, it was a failure that could dent India's chances.

Ishan Kishan did his batting practice with pace throw-downs initially and then faced Mohammad Siraj in the nets. Siraj clocked his full throttle during the practice session as he bowled to Ishan Kishan.

Some glimpse of Suryakumar Yadav was also seen in the nets as he faced the local bowlers in the third net.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli skipped the practice session on Monday. Sharma was with the team but didn't undergo the sessions, Kohli had requested emergency permission to visit his family in Mumbai.

Virat Kohli was reported to join the Indian team in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, but as of now, no further developments have come. His participation in the IND vs NED warm-up fixture still remains under dark clouds.

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