India in high spirits ahead of clashes with UAE and Windies
Sridhar pushes team in fielding session in Perth to get them fit and in right frame of mind
Team India appear to be in buoyant mood here. As soon as the team bus stopped at the Western Australia Cricket Ground (WACA), all the players came out extremely cheerful, with some laughing at a joke cracked by Virat Kohli.
Though training was scheduled to begin at 2.30pm, the team only started at 4pm due to temperatures of around 40-degree Celsius.
It was their first training session since arriving in Perth, where they will play two World Cup matches against the UAE and the West Indies. The players right away engaged in a fielding practice under the directions of India’s fielding coach R. Sridhar.
India’s fielding in the World Cup so far has earned plaudits and it is Sridhar who has transformed the team into a fitter and agile unit.
At the WACA, he divided the team into two and, with just two stumps on the ground, they were asked to hit the target. The group that hit the most would be declared the winners, so there was plenty of enthusiasm.
Speaking to BCCI.tv , Sridhar said: “We have a fit and agile fielding unit. I believe this Indian team is one of the most agile — it is a top-class fielding side.
“The most important components in fielding are quick reflexes so you can dive and stop the ball, strong and soft hands for the catches, speed to the ball for the fielders who are on the boundary and a powerful throwing arm. We have a good combination of all four.
“Imagine a Ravindra Jadeja at point, Ajinkya Rahane in the covers, Suresh Raina at slips or extra cover, Virat Kohli at midoff and imagine the pressure on a batsman to take a single.”
Sridhar has modelled his training methods on the dictum of ‘catch with your and throw with your feet’.
He explained: “What I mean is your feet are the first part of your body that moves towards the target when you are setting yourself up for a throw. The feet give you the balance to catch — if you are not balanced enough you are not judging the ball because your eyes are moving.”
It was Mohit Sharma’s throw that ended South African skipper AB De Villiers’ innings during India’s win in Melbourne. “Mohit is an amazing outfielder. What I like about him is the effort. He gives it all, chases the ball even if it is out of his reach.”
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