Photo credit: X/@KeralaBlasters

KOCHI: Preparations for Kerala Blasters’ first home match of the new Indian Super League (ISL) season against Mumbai City FC were thrown into turmoil on the eve of the fixture on Saturday, following an unexpected standoff with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi.GCDA denied permission for a pre-arranged pre-match press conference to be held inside the stadium, forcing the club to shift the interaction online at short notice.Tensions escalated later in the evening when GCDA officials reportedly asked All India Football Federation (AIFF) personnel, including match commissioner Arunava Bhattacharya, to vacate the premises. The authority also allegedly ordered the closure of the club’s administrative office operating within the stadium complex.Amid speculation that the match could be called off, the Blasters clarified in a late evening statement that the game would proceed as per schedule. “In the end, football is the winner. We will take to the field against Mumbai City FC tomorrow for our first home game of the season,” the club said.However, a source close to the management indicated that the understanding applies only for the opening fixture, with no clarity yet on arrangements for the remaining home games.The uncertainty stems from a dispute over stadium rent and pending payments.Last week, GCDA chairman K Chandran Pillai announced in a joint press conference with club officials that Rs 2 lakh would be charged as a one-time concession for this season, instead of Rs 8 lakh that was charged during the previous seasons.However, the authority’s executive committee, which met on Thursday, reportedly reversed the decision and fixed the rent at Rs 4.2 lakh per match.In addition to the revised match-day rent, GCDA is said to have demanded that the Blasters clear the full amount and settle an additional Rs 22 lakh as liability fees from the previous season within a week.According to a source within the club, the disputed sum relates to losses and additional expenses arising from a Bharatanatyam event held at the stadium in December last year.“Since the event happened in the middle of the season, they are asking us to pay that amount. Why should we pay the liability for an event that had no connection with us?” the source said.TOI reached out to GCDA officials, but they were not available for comment.The standoff played out publicly earlier in the day when GCDA security personnel asked journalists to vacate the hall designated for the pre-match press conference before locking up the venue. Blasters head coach David Catala and midfielder Rowllin Borges reportedly waited for over 30 minutes before leaving, once it became clear the interaction would not be allowed to proceed.The club subsequently conducted the media briefing online. During the session, Catala was asked pointedly by a reporter: “Which is your home ground?”The Spaniard kept his focus on football. His priority, he said, was preparing the squad and playing in front of their supporters at the stadium. He exuded confidence that the match would go ahead at the venue despite the uncertainty off the pitch.For now, the Blasters’ home opener will go ahead as per schedule, but the dispute on rent remains unresolved, casting a shadow over the rest of their ISL campaign.

Abhishek Sharma during a practice session before an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium. (PTI)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: “Matlab Abhishek ki jagah khilau? (Should I play him instead of Abhishek?)”, “matlab Tilak ki jagah khilau? (You mean in place of Tilak?).”Suryakumar Yadav was shocked and broke into instant laughter when asked about the possibility of Sanju Samson replacing either Abhishek Sharma or Tilak Varma in India’s Playing XI for the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash against South Africa. Social media rumour mills were working overtime, connecting dots from Samson’s extended net session, but the Indian captain ruled that possibility out for the contest in Ahmedabad on February 22.

“It’s going well in power play. We’re making 50-40 runs. That’s normal cricket. Now we’ve played so well in bilateral. It happens – we have expectations, we also have expectations from ourselves. Expectation to make 220, 240, 250. But wickets are a little different here. The four wickets we have played on so far were a little different and challenging. Off-spinners were not bowling earlier but are now. So we have started preparation for that and hopefully we will tackle it as we start our Super Eight journey,” added Surya.India had an extended hit at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 20 and Sanju’s extended grind wasn’t an anomaly. Every player in the squad trained for over four hours. Sanju also followed the routine, which involved swapping nets, exchanging partners, and using the training area near the main enclosure for skill-based work.

Abhishek Sharma (AP Photo)

Few eyebrows were raised when Abhishek batted for only around 20 minutes but the management isn’t panicking about the belligerent opener’s form or his tournament tally remaining at zero after three innings.“About Abhishek’s form, I worry for the people who are worried about Abhishek’s form, I worry about them. Why are they so worried about Abhishek’s form? But I think about those teams who are going to play against him. That he has not yet scored a run. You know the rest of the answers. When he scores a run, you have seen what happens. “It happens, it’s a team sport, it keeps going on. Now the team has a requirement that the boy should play with his identity. So he is trying to play. If it happens, then it’s fine, if it doesn’t, then we are there to cover. Last year he covered for us, now we will cover for him,” said Surya when asked about the concern surrounding the left-hander.

Suryakumar Yadav (ANI Photo)

Apart from the poor starts, the middle-overs period is where the opposition has managed to suck momentum out of India’s innings. The pair of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav have operated with a very cautious undertone. Much of the criticism has gone Tilak’s way with even calls for his removal from the Playing XI. Like it has been in Abhishek’s case, the thinktank will follow the same patient route and Surya asserted that India’s No.3 is batting as per the plan. The 23-year-old has accumulated 106 runs in four outings but the issue isn’t the runs; it’s the mediocre strike-rate of 120.45 which has put him in the firing line.“The team management has told him that he has to bat that way. If one wicket is down, then he is definitely, he can go and have his own game in the powerplay. But as soon as two wickets are down, then he has to take a little bit of backseat, get a partnership again, get to the 10th over and then we have enough firepower to continue and take on the bowling.“I am sure he must not be happy with how he is batting right now. He must be and he has practised a lot as well in the last 2-3 practice sessions. But I don’t have any concern regarding him. He has been delivering for India at No. 3 really well and I am very confident that he will do it better,” explained Surya, throwing weight behind the youngster.

Tilak Varma (ANI)

When India began the new T20I cycle under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Surya, flexibility and intent remained the keyword. As they got closer to the tournament, the flexibility, which didn’t apply to the openers, saw No.3 and No.4 get added to the list as Tilak and Surya were frozen for those positions. While the bilaterals got success, the sticky and tacky surfaces in the T20 World Cup has begged a pertinent question – do India need to revisit the entry points for its lower order featuring the likes of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh? Surya seems open to the idea and hinted at promoting either Dube or Pandya if the team feels it’s necessary. The openers’ start and the match-ups will be the deciding factors for that call.“Except the openers, I think from 3 to 7 or 3 to 8 everyone has to be very flexible and that has been the message in the group, that if there is no wicket down till 8 or 9 overs, there might be a point where you might see Shivam Dubey walking in or even a Hardik walking in, if there is a proper match up. So everyone has to be very flexible, even I am flexible, I have said the same thing to everyone. So if we get into that situation, we will definitely have it and take that call,” said Surya.Under the unforgiving sun, Surya spent significant time with Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh during the team’s optional practice session. The three had a long chat under the umbrella after the left-handers finished their hit. Regular cheers erupted during the discussion as teammates aggressively cheered Kuldeep Yadav‘s every big hit. For the rest, it was time to put their feet up before the business end of the tournament begins.

R Premadasa Stadium under covers (Photo by Pratyush Raj/TimesofIndia.com)

Rain has become the main talking point ahead of the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match in Colombo, with the weather threatening to disrupt the big clash on Saturday. Light but steady drizzle has covered the ground, and the start of the match has already been delayed. Officials have kept the pitch and outfield under covers, and fans are waiting for updates on when play can begin.

If the rain does not stop, overs will start getting cut after 8:10 PM IST (2:40 PM GMT). That means the match could be shortened, depending on how long the delay lasts. The latest possible time to start a five-overs-per-side game is 10:16 PM IST (4.46 pm GMT). If play cannot begin by then, the match could be abandoned with no result, which would be a big blow for both teams.Rain in Colombo is not new, and similar conditions forced Pakistan to cancel a practice session recently. Even today, the drizzle has been persistent, and the forecast does not look very promising. Fans and teams are hoping for a break in the weather so that at least some cricket can be played.Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first. There are also some interesting team updates. Pakistan have brought back Fakhar Zaman despite concerns over his knee, which surprised many. It will be interesting to see where he bats in the order and what role Babar Azam plays in the lineup. New Zealand have also made changes, with captain Mitchell Santner returning and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson rejoining the squad after becoming a father.Both teams reached the Super 8 stage with strong performances in the group stage, so this match is important for their World Cup campaign. However, for now, all eyes are on the sky, as rain continues to decide the fate of this high-stakes clash.New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie FergusonPakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq

Smriti Mandhana (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana expressed her delight after India’s 17-run win over Australia in the series-deciding T20I, calling the victory “really special.” She also stressed that the team will “not celebrate too much” and will quickly shift focus to the upcoming ODI series, starting Tuesday.India clinched the final match in Adelaide to take a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series. A match-winning 121-run partnership between Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues helped India post a strong 176/6. Mandhana scored 82 off 55 balls and was named Player of the Match, while Rodrigues added 59.

Speaking after the game, Mandhana said, “It was good to contribute to the series win. I think beating Australia in Australia is something really special. I’m really happy for the team and glad that I could contribute.” She praised Rodrigues for changing the momentum early in their partnership, saying, “When she came in, I think I was 16-ball 15 and still getting my timing, and she came in, got three or four boundaries, got the momentum going, and I could take some time.” She added that those quick boundaries helped calm her down and credited Rodrigues for her knock.Mandhana also spoke about the importance of the win, saying, “I think we did beat them in 2016 back when we had come here, but I think we’ve played T20 after a very long time in Australia, so beating them is really nice.”India’s bowlers then delivered a strong performance, picking early wickets and keeping Australia under pressure. Ashleigh Gardner scored 57, but India’s disciplined bowling and fielding, including a stunning diving catch by Rodrigues, restricted Australia to 159/9.Despite the memorable win, Mandhana remained grounded and focused on the future. “We will move on to the ODI series and not celebrate too much,” she said.With confidence from the T20I triumph, India will now prepare for the ODI series starting February 24, as they look to continue their strong run in Australia after their historic World Cup win last year.

Smriti Mandhana of India (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

India Women beat Australia Women by 17 runs on Saturday in the third T20I match in Adelaide to win the series 2-1. Smriti Mandhana was the star with the bat, while Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil impressed with the ball for India.India won the toss and chose to bat first. Mandhana and Shafali Verma opened the innings. India had a steady start, but Shafali got out early.

Mandhana then built a strong partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues and helped India take control of the match. She played a brilliant innings and scored 82 runs off 55 balls, hitting several boundaries and sixes. Mandhana reached her fifty in just 38 balls and kept the scoreboard ticking with confident strokes.Jemimah Rodrigues also played well and scored 59 runs, while Richa Ghosh added quick runs at the end with 18 off 7 balls. India lost a few wickets in the final over but still finished with a strong total of 176 for 6.In response, Australia started aggressively. Openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney scored quickly in the first over, but India struck back fast. Shreyanka Patil dismissed Voll, and Shree Charani got Mooney out soon after. Ellyse Perry was also dismissed early, leaving Australia in trouble at 32 for 3.Ashleigh Gardner fought hard for Australia and scored 57 runs, but she did not get much support from the rest of the batters. India’s bowlers kept taking wickets regularly, and Australia finished on 159 for 9, falling short by 17 runs.Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil took three wickets each and played a big role in restricting Australia. Mandhana was named Player of the Match for her match-winning innings.With this win, India sealed the T20I series 2-1 in Australia.

Gautam Gambhir (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir is rarely seen engaging with fans, but a heartwarming video of him interacting warmly during a practice session has gone viral on social media. In the clip, Gambhir is seen signing autographs, posing for selfies and sharing a light-hearted exchange with a supporter.While handing out an autograph, he jokingly said, “Arey yaar, aap har venue mein pahunch jaate ho, kaise manage karte ho itna sab? Kahaan rehte ho? Yahan par kahaan rehte ho?” — leaving those around him smiling.

The video has quickly gained traction online.Meanwhile, defending champions India, unbeaten in the group stage, will begin their Super 8 campaign against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.India had beaten South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados to lift the trophy. The upcoming clash will mark the sixth meeting between the two sides in the last two months, with familiarity adding another intriguing layer to the contest.Squads:India: Suyakumar Yadav (captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Sanju Samson (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh.South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickleton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde, Jason Smith.

Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma

NEW DELHI: Amid the poor run of form of opener Abhishek Sharma in the T20 World Cup, India captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday backed the explosive batter, saying “it’s now our turn to cover for him”.“Abhishek Sharma ki form ki jo chinta kar rahe hain, unki chinta mai kar raha hu. (I am worried for those who are worried about Abhishek Sharma’s form),” Surya said in the pre-match press conference in Ahmedabad.“He covered for us all year, now it’s our turn,” the India captain added ahead of the Super 8 clash against South Africa on Sunday. In the three matches he has played so far in the T20 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma has failed to score a single run and has been dismissed for a duck in all three matches vs USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands in the group-stage. The prolific opener with a monstrous strike rate of 192-plus is enduring a sudden lean patch, which can primarily be attributed to his return to competitive cricket less than a week after hospitalisation.The slow pitches haven’t helped his cause either.So far, the team’s collective might has successfully ensured that results are not impacted but with the Super Eights set to take off on Saturday, it would be crucial that his bat talks loudly. India take on South Africa on February 22 in their opening match of the stage.Earlier, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel also backed the left-handed batter on Friday and said the left-hander was just one innings away from getting back in the zone.Absolutely no discussion in our team group about that,” said Morkel about Abhishek’s three ducks.“He is a world-class player. We are going to a very important phase of the World Cup now and I am sure he is going to deliver.“I am pretty sure he is hitting the ball in the nets. “It is just a matter of getting the start and getting the innings going.”

AHMEDABAD: In the last week of Feb in 2021, Axar Patel’s international career truly got rolling here at the revamped Narendra Modi stadium when he played the lead role in demolishing England in the Test series. The three preceding years out of the Indian team had already transformed him as a cricketer. Five years later, he will be stepping on to his home turf as a core member of the leadership group when the T20 World Cup enters its business end with India taking on South Africa on Sunday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a chat with TOI in Jan, Axar claimed those three years out of the Indian team helped him identify the areas to work on to be a better person and understand what he needed to become a better cricketer.

Axar’s carefree and funny-to-the-bone on-screen demeanour, often ending up as memes, gains more traction on social media. He likes to keep everything around him as uncomplicated as possible. That said, for all the riches he has earned through cricket, he prefers building a new swanky house in his hometown in Nadiad which is around 60 km from Ahmedabad. He rushes to his comfort place in Nadiad when he isn’t with the Indian team. Yet, the process he follows to stay on top as an international cricketer is as rigorous and detailed as any. The extensive training sessions are all scheduled at the GS Patel Stadium in the Kheda district. It’s just that he has formed a safe and strong core team outside Indian cricket. Leading that team is his wife Meha, charting out his diet. “Meha is a qualified dietician. Even if he is travelling with the Indian team, he gets every meal cleared by Meha,” Axar’s childhood friend and confidant Keval Patel in Nadiad told TOI. “He comes gets a longish break from the Indian team maybe a couple of times in a year. He loves to eat cheese vada paav and laze with us when he comes here. Meha doesn’t stop him from eating but adjusts the next few meals accordingly,” Keval mentioned. Much of Axar’s evolution as a cricketer and as a batter in particular happened at the GS Patel stadium. Axar took it on himself to renovate the gym with very basic facilities and turn it into a high-end fitness centre for the youngsters in the region. “He usually follows the routine given to him by the support staff in the BCCI. But he realised that the local kids also need better facilities. Five years ago, he said he will fund the renovation of the gym. The gym has pictures of all the top Indian cricketers mounted on the wall,” said Keval. Soon, Keval talked about Axar’s meticulous cricket training drills. Before joining the Indian team for this T20 World Cup, he had a session with the Delhi Capitals team in Delhi where he trained for batting after the 15th over of the innings. He was probably intimated by the team management he would be needed to bat lower down the order unlike in the preceding assignments. “He plans training sessions according to different batting situations. He bats for four-five hours a day for the last five-six years. On certain days, he will be practicing against the new ball. On other days, he will bat on the centre square, practicing only power-hitting,” Keval revealed. In the chat with TOI, Axar said he regained confidence in his batting after MS Dhoni asked him to think like a regular batter around 2018 and he could work on it with Ricky Ponting’s backing at the Capitals from 2019. And what drills does he do for his bowling? “He just does spot bowling. His only focus is to get his pitching right. He will be hitting the same spot for a long period of time, varying pace and angles,” Keval said. Axar’s utility batting has overshadowed Axar the left-arm spinner in the last year or so made more headlines in the past year. But it’s hard to discount his consistent contributions with the ball after enduring a deluge of barbs from experts for the first half of his international career. In 2021, he had told TOI that he started believing he must be a special bowler to have made it this far without being a conventional left-arm spinner. “I did talk with R Ashwin but he does some really deep thinking. I can’t do that,” Axar had joked. It’s been a long journey for India’s one of the most understated cricketers in the last five years. The next two and a half weeks could propel him to becoming a poster boy of Indian cricket.

India intensified their preparations for their Super Eight clash against South Africa with a rigorous four-hour training session in Ahmedabad on Friday evening. Players showcased high energy and focus across batting, bowling, and fielding drills. Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates aimed for peak performance, with Jasprit Bumrah honing his yorkers and Hardik Pandya unleashing powerful sixes.

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Two days ahead of their Super Eight clash against South Africa, India meant business. Frenetic energy gripped the Narendra Modi Stadium for over four hours as Suryakumar Yadav & co. took over the gigantic venue. Refreshed and energised after the one-day break, players began descending the long staircase from the dressing room to the field around 5:30pm and immediately got to work. There were no absentees and everyone made their presence felt with bat, ball and the catching session under fielding coach T Dilip.What initially started as a hit on one practice pitch trickled down to the far end of the practice square where ground staff made late arrangements for range hitting. Even the practice cage toward the stadium’s main enclosure was lit, hosting Kuldeep Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Mohammed Siraj working on their skills, with Jasprit Bumrah joining late. There was activity everywhere and it became difficult to keep a tab on multiple hot spots which were activated for the marathon yet high-intensity training session.

After completing his usual release work with the resistance band and getting a feel for the main ground, Bumrah went to the nets with bowling coach Morne Morkel. The South African was asked to remove his boots which were precisely placed around the popping crease and Bumrah had his target locked. The bowler delivered a few looseners from a short run-up; once satisfied with the run-up and grip near the landing area, he bowled with full effort.It was a masterclass in accuracy as he repeatedly bowled to perfect his art of nailing yorkers at will and received constant feedback from the bowling coach. The two would break into short chats after almost every delivery and like a very patient learner, Bumrah soaked in the advice he received. Mohammed Siraj, still padded up, dropped by and the two had some nice banter before Bumrah resumed business. By the time he was done, Morkel’s footwear was severely damaged as the ball thudded into the pair on many occasions but the coach wasn’t complaining. It was a job well done, and attention returned to the main ground.​​

Ahmedabad: From left, India’s Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya during a practice session before an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan) (PTI02_20_2026_000445A)

The ring of fire was lit in its full glory and shouts of “Watch out! Mind!” reverberated in the empty stands as a barrage of sixes were launched by the India batters, Hardik Pandya in particular. The right-hander switched nets and partners but looked to go big almost every delivery. The onslaught began against the Indian squad’s spinners, continued against the seamers, and concluded with the destruction of everything net bowlers and side-armers sent his way during the marathon two-hour hitting session.His teammates had to duck for cover and the handful of officials and media personnel watching the nets from the sight screen were constantly focused on the ball. This could well be India’s last full-throttle hit before the Super 8s get underway and no player showed any drop in intensity during their time in the middle. From Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak, and Suryakumar Yadav to the bowlers Siraj, Kuldeep, and Varun Chakravarthy, and then the all-rounders —Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar — they arrived fresh but left drenched in sweat after what seemed like a satisfying outing.

Ahmedabad: India’s Abhishek Sharma, centre, and head coach Gautam Gambhir, left, interact during a practice session before an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan) (PTI02_20_2026_000336B)

As expected, initial attention was restricted to World No.1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to get off the mark in the tournament. With three ducks in as many games, the youngster looked a bit low on confidence and his delayed entry into the batting net raised some eyebrows. It, however, was similar to what he had done on the eve of the match vs USA at Wankhede where he was one of the last players to have a hit. Similar to that pleasant evening in Mumbai, the left-hander first bowled an extended spell and then focussed only on hitting sixes in Ahmedabad on Friday. The connections however weren’t as sweet and the baggage of three ducks did seem to weigh him down a bit.Before proceedings got underway, Coach Gautam Gambhir gave an extended pep talk. The fist bump between the two after their animated chat assured that management has his back. Bowling coach Morne Morkel echoed this sentiment at the press conference preceding the training.

“Abhishek is a world-class player. Luckily, there were guys standing up with Abhishek obviously not scoring the runs he would like. But we’re going through a very important phase of the World Cup now and I’m pretty sure he’s going to deliver,” said Morkel when asked about discussions around Abhishek in the Indian camp.“Not so much just for the team, but also for all the viewers watching the game, because he’s entertaining and we love to see that. So, yeah, I’m pretty sure [he’ll turn it around]; he’s hitting the ball well in the nets. It’s just a matter of getting that start and getting his innings going,” the 41-year-old further added.​​Abhishek’s nearly 20-minute hit had everyone glued to the net he was batting in. From coach Gautam Gambhir to captain Suryakumar Yadav and other support staff members, everyone watched the young lad who has had a forgettable T20 World Cup campaign so far. The way everyone grouped outside the nets explained what the left-hander’s return to form means for the entire group, and how much they value his contributions and role in the side.

Ahmedabad: From left, India’s Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Tilak Varma during a practice session before an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan) (PTI02_20_2026_000442A)

With quality players, the question is always when, not how. There are very few doubts about their ability and it’s that one sweet connection everyone waits for. The wait wasn’t long as Abhishek managed to connect a few shots in his brief hit but the way he exited the net and stood near his training gear, he didn’t look content. For a batter who has sent shivers down the opposition’s spine, the struggle to return to form seemed real. It was also a reminder of how this sport unfolds and continues to be a great equaliser.Come Saturday, the belligerent southpaw will have another opportunity to hit the right notes, as the rest of the clan is expected to relax in the team hotel while only a few endure the afternoon heat.