Over the years, Indian teams have relied heavily on match simulations, and Gautam Gambhir’s team is no exception. They have chosen net bowlers with certain skill sets to assist the batsmen in preparing for the Bangladesh series, which begins on September 19 here.
Gurnoor Brar, a pacer from Punjab who has played five first-class matches so far and was also with Punjab Kings in the previous IPL season, is one of the players called up for this four-day camp.
Despite having an unflattering first-class record, the 24-year-old’s big 6 feet 4.5 inch physique and unsettling bounce—which he can produce with more than just skiddy pace—worked for him.
Gurnoor was reportedly brought in especially to provide some imitation of Bangladeshi bowler Nahid Rana’s high-arm movement. Rana recently recorded a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in a Rawalpindi Test match.
Rana’s trademark bounce from length, which he produced with his 6′ 5 inch frame, is what makes his bowling so special. In the second Test against Pakistan, he mostly bowled straight lines.
It is known that India is unlikely to play on rank turners because it has two strong new ball bowlers in Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in its ranks. Instead, the Chepauk strip may be one where pace bowlers and spinners would receive equal support.
The lanky Bangladeshi bowler Rana may be included since the bounce might be more even.
Morne Morkel, the new bowling coach for India, was spotted offering some guidance on how to bowl to elite hitters and what kinds of targeted net sessions the team should be looking at.
Included in the nets is Mumbai off-spinner Himanshu Singh, whose action is said to be akin to that of the legendary Ravichandran Ashwin.
S Ajit Ram, a slow-arm left-arm bowler for Tamil Nadu, also toiled away at the nets.
Pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal, who may be benched if India fields three specialist spinners, bowled more during the second day in the nets than the top pair of Bumrah and Siraj.
After a month-long vacation, the senior hitters are now attempting to regain their rhythm.
On Sunday, the Bangladeshi team is scheduled to arrive in Chennai. It is known that the guests, who are arriving soon after the nation’s civil upheaval and the subsequent removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, would be subject to strict security.
Indeed, BCCI secretary Jay Shah “assured” incoming BCB chairman Farukh Ahmed last Thursday in Dhaka that the appropriate security arrangements have been made.
“I have talked to Jay Shah and he has given us assurance regarding security,” Faruque told reporters after a meeting with the national team players at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
