Rain spoils Team India’s training session

While the fast bowlers could not bowl at full tilt on Friday, the batsmen including Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma and M.S. Dhoni all got a hit.

India captain Kohli went through an intense batting session, where he faced coach Kumble although the pair did not chat much.

India's practice sessions have not gone along expected lines in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan. After having to train at the smaller No.1 nets adjacent to the main ground at Edgbaston on Thursday because Australia was practising at the same time, India was forced to train indoors on Friday due to rain. The team was due to use the spacious Colts Nets behind the main ground before the skies opened up, forcing the players to head to the indoor Cricket Centre.

While the fast bowlers could not bowl at full tilt on Thursday, they were out of action on Friday as well. Only Jasprit Bumrah, among the quicks, turned up, for what was an optional session. But he too did not bowl.

India's batsmen all got a hit though. Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, M.S. Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, and Dinesh Karthik faced throw-downs, as Anil Kumble, R. Sridhar, and Sanjay Bangar took turns with the side-arm. Yuvraj was one of the first to bat. The left-hander did not look at his best early on but soon began striking the ball well. Kohli went through an intense if short batting session. He faced Kumble although the pair, like on Thursday, did not chat much. India will hope for some uninterrupted, quality time in the nets on Saturday, and pray the rain stays away.