India’s Strategy Unveiled for 2nd SA Test: Kohli’s Prep and Bowlers’ Tactics

New Delhi: In preparation for the second Test against South Africa, India revealed their game plan during practice in Cape Town. With South African bowler Nandre Burger proving challenging in the first match, Virat Kohli focused on honing his skills against fast left-armers.

Burger made a significant impact in the previous game, bagging seven wickets, causing trouble for the Indian batting lineup. Despite Kohli’s eight boundaries against Burger, tackling him better became a priority. Kohli’s practice involved facing a local left-arm pace bowler, simulating Burger’s style, alongside deliveries from Bumrah, Siraj, Ashwin, and Khan.

Interestingly, the practice revealed insights into players’ strengths and areas needing improvement. Shreyas Iyer, who faced issues with short-pitched deliveries in the first Test, encountered discomfort against similar deliveries during practice. This time, he grappled when faced with a Sri Lankan left-arm bowler, indicating a potential challenge.

During the session, Bumrah and Siraj strategically targeted specific lengths, aiming between 6 to 8 meters, refining their approaches for the upcoming match. Ashwin, however, focused on bowling fuller lengths to the batters.

The training sessions provided a glimpse into India’s preparations, highlighting efforts to counter specific bowlers and refine batting techniques against challenging deliveries. The insights gained from these practices may play a crucial role in India’s performance in the upcoming Test match.