The countdown to the Asia Cup has begun, and India wasted no time sharpening their edges under the harsh Abu Dhabi sun.
At the ICC Academy Oval, the nets turned into a mini battleground as vice-captain Shubman Gill traded blows and barbs with Jasprit Bumrah.
Sanju Samson, dripping after a sweat-soaked half-hour hit, stood by as his direct rival, Jitesh Sharma, put in the hard yards with the gloves. The two are locked in a race for India’s lone wicketkeeper’s slot.
Earlier, warm-up routines saw players doing running drills before bats were unsheathed.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav, easing back after surgery, paired with Gill in the nets, searching for rhythm. Ahead of them, Abhishek Sharma impressed with both bat and ball, experimenting with left-arm orthodox, wrist spin and even his backspinner.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel watched Shivam Dube’s run-up closely, while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana worked more on fitness than with the ball. Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, kept their engines humming.
India’s road begins against the UAE on September 10. But all eyes, inevitably, are on the blockbuster September 14 clash against Pakistan in Dubai.
