IND vs SA: Under the ring of fire, new subplots emerge in India practice

India vs South Africa, T20 World Cup: India practised in the night session at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. The session was indicative of changes that the team might make in their line-up and strategies for the South Africa game.

One of Jasprit Bumrah’s yorkers thrashed into a pair of boots in the training nets of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, February 20. Morne Morkel, watching closely from behind the nets, nodded in approval — not just at the pace of the ball that was bowled, but also at the trajectory. The ball dipped late. It landed exactly where it was meant to.

By the time Bumrah jogged up to retrieve it, the yorker had split open the pair of expensive sneakers stationed at the other end.

Bumrah did not mind. Neither did Morne.

“I’d buy a new one,” the fast bowler joked.

More than the damaged shoes, what mattered was something else entirely — Bumrah looked in good form. The shoulders were loose. The follow-through was effortless. After constant travel and quick turnarounds, he had found a small pause in the schedule. And it showed. Bumrah looked in brilliant touch during the Ahmedabad training. (PTI Photo)

He bowled no more than 12 deliveries. Drank down a bottle of electrolytes. Rested. Fielding coach T Dilip walked up and discussed fielding positions briefly. It was all calm. Controlled. Tilak Varma was striking the ball cleanly in the adjacent net. For a few minutes, everything felt aligned. Bumrah's panache was on full show during India's Ahmedabad practice session. (Photo: Kingshuk Kusari)