South Africa defeated Team India by 30 runs in the first match of the two-match Test series. Now the second test match between India and South Africa is to be played in Guwahati from 22nd November. Before this, Team India practiced in a unique way at Eden Gardens. However, there was also a risk of injury to the Indian players. In fact, in the first test match, Indian batsmen were seen struggling against the South African spinners. For this reason, Indian batsmen have practiced in a unique way.

Indian batsmen Sai Sudarshan and Dhruv Jurel practiced hard for about three hours wearing a pad in front of the spinners on Monday. This was an optional practice session, in which left-handed batsman Sudarshan practiced by removing the pad of his right foot. Sudarshan was not included in the playing eleven in the first Test match played in Kolkata and there is no guarantee that he will get a chance in Guwahati.

Batting without a pad on his front foot against left-arm spinners and off-spinners meant he had to be especially cautious about avoiding injury to the shin or any exposed area. This is an old method of batting practice, in which coaches insist that batsmen use their bat more than their front pad to stop the ball. Another reason behind such practice is that India’s left-handed batsmen have a tendency to go on the backfoot. This kind of practice helps them to play the spinners forward.

Like Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel also took out a pad and practiced. He played as a specialist batsman in the first Test match, but failed to perform as expected. The team management can keep him in the playing eleven in the same role in Guwahati.

During the optional session, head coach Gautam Gambhir kept a close eye on Sudarshan, who is one of the contenders to replace Shubman Gill. The Indian captain may have to sit out of the second test due to neck cramps. Both these batsmen practiced in front of fast bowlers also, but they did not look comfortable in front of them. Akashdeep’s ball took the edge of his bat many times and even the net bowlers troubled him with the movement. Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had a long conversation with him during the break.

Despite the defeat in the first Test match, it was surprising that only six players turned up for the optional session, including the most senior member, Ravindra Jadeja, who batted for the longest period. Due to Gill’s chances of playing in the second Test match being very slim, all-rounder Nitish Reddy has been ruled out of the ongoing India A series against South Africa A in Rajkot. Reddy has returned to Kolkata and joined the team, but he did not participate in the optional practice session.