Ahead of the second Test match against South Africa, Team India batsmen Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel were facing spinners while wearing just one pad to counter the turning deliveries. This method comes with a bit of risk as well.
As was the case with most unorthodox practices, there was a method to the madness during this nearly three-hour optional session at the Eden Gardens.
For left-hander Sudharsan, the decision to remove his right pad was aimed at ensuring a big front-foot stride without any protection on that leg.
The left-hander did not feature in the series opener at the Eden Gardens, and there is no guarantee that he will get an opportunity to make his appearance in Guwahati`s clash.
Batting against left-arm spinners and off-spinners without a front pad meant he had to be especially cautious about avoiding blows on the shin bone or any exposed area that could lead to a fracture.
This is a very old-school training method, where coaches insist batsmen use their bat more than their front pad to block the deliveries.
Another reason behind this drill is the current tendency among Indian left-handers to go on the back foot, as they struggle to read spinners from the hand and try to play with the turn.
The practice encourages batters to step out of the crease and smother the spin.
The second Test match between Team India and South Africa is scheduled to be played from November 22 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
Similarly, Dhruv Jurel was also seen without his right pad as he worked on the reverse sweep on one of the centre strips. For a right-hander, the execution of the stroke demands a big stride forward with the right leg.
During the net session, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen keeping a close watch on Sudharsan, who is among the contenders to replace skipper Shubman Gill. The Indian skipper was seen suffering pain in his neck during the first Test match, which forced him to walk off the ground mid-match.
The youngster did not look entirely confident against the pacers, as Akash Deep found his outside edge multiple times, and even the net bowlers troubled him with movement.
Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak spoke to him at length during several breaks. Additionally, only six players turned up for the optional net session, including the senior-most player, Ravindra Jadeja. The left-hander was seen spending the most time batting in the nets.
(With PTI Inputs)