The Rohit Sharma-led Team India has kickstarted its training camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as a part of its preparations for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The camp aims to bring the players together and hone their skills before the much-anticipated tournament in Sri Lanka.
The campaign for the men in blue will commence with a face-off against their arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2 in Pallekele. As the excitement builds up, there’s positive news regarding ace batter Virat Kohli’s fitness. Kohli demonstrated his physical prowess by successfully completing the ‘Yo-Yo Test,’ a rigorous fitness assessment. The former India skipper took to social media to share his achievement, posting a picture of himself with the caption, “The happiness of finishing the Yo Yo test between the dreaded cones. 17.2 done.” Kohli’s dedication to maintaining his fitness levels bodes well for Team India’s prospects in the Asia Cup.
In addition to the core squad selected for the Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has called up 14 net bowlers for a specialized five-day camp. The objective behind assembling this extensive group of net bowlers is to ensure that the main bowling resources are not overworked. This strategy guarantees high-quality practice sessions for the batsmen while preserving the fitness and form of the bowlers. A BCCI official stated, “The idea is to ensure intensity and quality of net sessions is right up there and it doesn’t burn out the bowling resources.”
The training camp will be under the guidance of the coaching staff, led by former Indian captain Rahul Dravid. Accompanying him will be key members of the coaching team, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip. The men’s senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will also be present to observe the camp’s proceedings and assess the players’ readiness for the tournament. Notably absent from the preparations will be NCA head VVS Laxman.
Amidst the preparations, a video of Indian captain Rohit Sharma at the airport has gone viral on social media. In the video, a photographer conveys his anticipation for the Asia Cup, to which Rohit responds confidently, “Jeetenge” (We will win). This display of determination from Rohit Sharma reflects the team’s optimism and determination to clinch victory in the upcoming tournament.
As the training camp progresses and the players gear up for the Asia Cup, the cricketing world watches with excitement. Team India’s preparation, dedication, and unity will be crucial as they aim to emerge victorious in the Asia Cup 2023.