1st ODI: India sharpen fielding with intense drills ahead of England challenge
Birmingham, July 14
India's preparations for the opening ODI against England gathered pace on Tuesday as the visitors put fielding at the centre of their training session at Edgbaston, with head coach Gautam Gambhir closely monitoring the proceedings ahead of the three-match series.
The session, overseen by strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux and fielding coach T. Dilip, featured a series of high-intensity drills aimed at improving agility, catching and ground fielding in English conditions.
The players began with a warm-up routine that included a football exercise, with captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, and others passing the ball in small groups as they moved across the ground. The activity was followed by dedicated fielding drills, with Dilip splitting the squad into two groups to maximise catching practice and ensure every player remained actively involved.
Addressing the players during the session, Dilip stressed the importance of quick movement in the field, particularly in conditions where sharp reflexes can make a decisive difference.
"England demands you to be faster with your feet, whether it is catch, or ground fielding. That's one aspect we'll try to get better. If your leg reaches to the ball, we're good," Dilip said while addressing the group.
The training session also had its lighter moments. Virat Kohli was seen sharing laughs with teammates during the drills, with visuals released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) capturing the relaxed atmosphere despite the demanding workload.
Meanwhile, Gambhir observed the session from the sidelines as India fine-tuned their preparations for the series opener.
The three-match contest marks the return of several senior players, including Rohit, Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, to India's ODI setup.
With the series also forming an important step in the team's build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, the visitors will look to begin the campaign on a positive note when they take on England in the opening match at Edgbaston.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The football warm-up routine is a clever touch! It builds team bonding while improving footwork. Rohit, Kohli, and Bumrah back together - feels like 2019 again. Just hope our middle order is tested properly in these conditions. England pace attack is no joke! 🇮🇳
Honestly, fielding drills are necessary but I'm more concerned about our batting lineup. We've been struggling against quality swing bowling lately. England will test us on those green tops. That said, seeing Kohli laugh and enjoy training is a good sign - he needs to be relaxed to score big. Let's hope the hard work pays off! 💪
As a cricket fan from the UK, I'm excited to see India play! Your fielding has improved so much over the years. The split group catching practice seems smart. But I think your real test will be facing Adil Rashid on these pitches - we need to see how your batsmen handle spin in English conditions. Good luck for the series! 🏏
One small criticism - why is Bumrah even doing fielding drills? We need him to rest that back properly, especially after the long IPL season. The 2027 WC build-up is important, but we can't afford to lose him to injuries again. Otherwise, great to see the intensity. Just need to protect our strike bowlers better! 🙏
Yaar, this Dilip sir is no-nonsense! "If your leg reaches to the ball, we're good" - that's proper Indian coaching philosophy. Focus on basics. The football
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