The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team will not practice at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, three days ahead of their second group-stage game of the T20 World Cup against Namibia, according
to a report in The Times of India.
While no official reason has been given for skipping the session, the step may be linked to ground availability, with Namibia and the Netherlands all set to use the venue for practice ahead of their game on Tuesday.
Namibia are slated to train in the morning session, with the Netherlands scheduled to practice in the evening.
In an official statement later in the evening, the BCCI said that it was a ‘day off’ for the Indian team and that they wouldn’t train at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
“Day off. No practice or press conference,” BCCI informed.
Team India will train from 6 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday at the same venue, with the Namibia vs Netherlands match expected to end by 3 pm.
India are coming off a 29-run win against the USA.
Suryakumar batting in his usual fluent style and Mohammed Siraj’s incisive opening spell headlined defending champions India’s scratchy 29-run victory over the United States, despite a dramatic top-order collapse in their T20 World Cup opener in Mumbai on Saturday, February 7.
A veteran of many a battle at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Suryakumar’s unbeaten 84 off 49 deliveries was a blend of a fine rescue act and a defiant counter-attack against a USA bowling attack that proved far from mere pushovers.
Drawing on all his experience at his home ground, Suryakumar reaped rich dividends for his patience and, more importantly, discipline, as a plucky USA team had India on the mat at 77/6 at one stage in the first half.
But Suryakumar’s late onslaught, featuring 10 fours and four sixes after he was dropped on 15, lifted India to 161/9 after they had been 128/7 at the end of 18 overs.
