Team India forced to train indoors ahead of 1st T20I against South Africa
India vs South Africa T20I series: Bad weather forced Indian players to train indoors a day before the opening match of the series.
In Short
- Indian team trained indoors ahead of 1st T20I against South Africa
- India are to play 3 T20Is and equal number of Test matches in home series against South Africa
- The first T20I will be played on Sunday in Dharamsala
The Indian team players had to practice indoors due to poor weather conditions on the eve of T20I opener of the 3-match series against South Africa at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
The weather forecast for Sunday's T20I is not good as there are chances of scattered rains during the day. Meanwhile the groundstaff was seen covering parts of playing area a day before the match. India skipper Virat Kohli also walked out under a umbrella after addressing the press conference.
While addressing the media, Kohli stressed on the fact that their training and hard work remains the same whether they are playing in the country or when touring overseas. The main goal of the team is always to go out there and win every game.
Snapshots from #TeamIndia's indoor net session in Dharamsala ahead of the 1st T20I against South Africa.#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/9SxAi9ocOl BCCI (@BCCI) September 14, 2019
In terms of preparing for the long season on home soil, India captain Virat Kohli stressed on the fact that their training and hard work remains the same whether they are playing in the country or when touring overseas. The main goal of the team is always to go out there and win every game.
"For us as a home team we need to be absolutely sure of our game plan. The way we prepare for overseas series where we have to be very very focussed, it's the same (for home series). International cricket is about your mindset nowadays.
"Every condition can be home condition if you feel comfortable. I think it's getting into that frame of mind for us which is very important. That's why we have been one of the most consistent teams in the last 2-3 years.
"And that's been the reason because we want to win every game wherever we play whether it's home, away, any format... we just want to go out there, play our best cricket and win," Kohli said at the pre-match press conference in Dharamsala on Saturday.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (c), Rassie van der Dussen (vc), Temba Bauvma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukyao, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde.