Indian batters practice bowling ahead of England fixture

Team India have been enjoying a dominant run in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as they’re on the top of the points table with five consecutive wins in the tournament so far. The only cause of worry in India’s otherwise flawless campaign is the injury to the all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The 30-year-old suffered an ankle injury while trying to stop a boundary during India’s fourth game against Bangladesh and has been ruled out for a few games.

Pandya’s absence has disturbed India’s playing combination massively as two players have been added to make up for the all-round abilities of the Gujarat-born cricketer. Hence, the Men in Blue are going in with five bowling options instead of six making them a bit vulnerable with the ball.

In order to make up for Pandya’s absence, several Indian players were seen rolling their arms over during their practice session in Lucknow ahead of their next game against England on Sunday, October 29. According to a report in Hundustan Times, Virat Kohli was the first man to bowl his part-time seam to Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.

Further ahead in the session, both Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, who have never bowled in their short ODI career so far, were also seen practicing their off-breaks. Ahead of the tournament, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had said that the fans might get to see him and Kohli bowling in the mega event. Notably, Kohli completed Pandya’s over after he was taken off the field after his injury against Bangladesh.

India to settle scores with England

Meanwhile, India will look to continue their winning run as they take on the defending champions England in Lucknow. The Jos Buttler-led side has had a horrible campaign so far having lost four of their five matches and are almost out of the tournament. India will look to return the favour to the Three Lions who knocked them out of the T20 World Cup 2022 with a crushing ten-wicket defeat in the semi-final.