World Cup 2019: Team India back in training after two-day break

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is recovering from a hamstring strain, was limited to light running in the team training at Southampton.

Virat Kohli in discussion with head coach Ravi Shastri, opener Rohit Sharma and chief selector M.S.K. Prasad.

After a two-day break following the big game against Pakistan at Manchester’s Old Trafford, Virat Kohli’s men were back in training at the Hampshire Bowl here on Wednesday. First-up, most of them including the skipper and M.S. Dhoni indulged in a spot of sepak takraw, a sport akin to volleyball but one in which only the legs and head were permitted to be used while relaying the ball across the net.

There was chit-chat and comedy too as Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal got struck awkwardly while the rest laughed. Later, the Men in Blue trooped to the adjacent practice ground and had a round of nets till an afternoon drizzle forced them to seek the indoor facility. Rohit Sharma, Kohli, K.L. Rahul, Pandya and Dhoni had a hit while Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah wheeled their arms over. Coach Ravi Shastri then had a long chat with Kohli and Pandya.

Dinesh Karthik, meanwhile, did his wicket-keeping drills at the main ground and Kuldeep Yadav had to do his shuttle runs, as part of his fitness regimen. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is recovering from a hamstring strain, jogged a bit and even ran up the stairs but he is unlikely to be fit in time for Saturday’s clash against Afghanistan.