Watch: Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja in six-hitting spree before Asia Cup, video goes viral
In a video uploaded by BCCI on twitter, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were seen indluging in what can easily be termed a six-hitting competition. India start their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on August 28.
India captain Rohit Sharma wants the batters to play positive cricket (read attack) irrespective of the situation, a template mastered by Eoin Morgan's England for the last half a decade. But it's easier said than done. England themsselves are finding it hard to achieve similar success after Morgan's retirement - they lost to India and South Africa at home. In the three-match T20I series against England, India tried to do the same with mixed success and chances are same that they would stick to the same plan even in the upcoming Asia Cup, at least that's what India's two full practice sessions have given an impression of.
If it was Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli attacking the spinners and practicing the lofted shots on their first net session, it was Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in the next day. In a video uploaded by BCCI on twitter, Pant and Jadeja were seen indluging in what can easily be termed a six-hitting competition.
"Whack Whack Whack at the nets, courtesy Ravindra Jadeja & Rishabh Pant," BCCI tweeted.
Jadeja was even seen hitting a couple of helicopter shots while Pant brought out his trademark one-haned flicks and pull shots. Both Jadeja and Pant were not afriad to use their feet against the spinners or even go deep inside the crease when the ball was pitched short.
With Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli taking the top three spots, with Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya slotting in the middle-order, the job of providing the finishing touches will rest mostly on Pant and Jadeja. It is unlikely that Dinesh Karthik will start, at least for the first couple of league games. India would want want that extra bowling option with Pandya and Jadeja doing the all-round duties.
India start their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue where they were beaten by the Babar Azam-led almost a year ago in the T20 World Cup last year.