The floodlights at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium burned late on Tuesday as India regrouped, less than two days after being outplayed by South Africa. There was no visible panic, but the mood carried urgency. With South Africa and West Indies comfortably ahead on Net Run Rate in Super Eight Group 1, the defending champion knows the margin for error has vanished.
Thursday’s meeting with Zimbabwe in Chennai is no ordinary group fixture. It is, in effect, a crossroads.
Training reflected that reality. On adjoining practice strips, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma batted for extended spells, hinting at a potential reshuffle at the top. The quartet took turns against both pace and spin, searching for rhythm and clarity after the recent setback.
Abhishek Sharma, whose tournament has yielded just 15 runs from four outings, began the evening working on his left-arm spin. The talented opener has yet to make his mark in this championship, and the session suggested the team management may be weighing alternatives.
Samson’s intent was unmistakable. He attacked the quicker bowlers, repeatedly lifting deliveries into the stands. The right-hander appeared at ease on a surface he may soon call home regularly, with a stint at Chennai Super Kings awaiting in the forthcoming Indian Premier League. Kishan, Suryakumar and Tilak followed suit, freeing their arms as net bowlers chased high catches under the humid Chennai sky.
One moment summed up the tempo of the session. Stationed at the non-striker’s end, Kishan reacted instinctively to a ball flying in from a neighboring net, dropping his bat and taking the catch cleanly. Even in practice, reflexes were sharp.
The drills were structured but intense, with separate nets dedicated to pace and spin. Conversations between players and support staff were frequent, suggesting tactical fine-tuning ahead of a high-stakes contest.
Notably absent was Rinku Singh, who reportedly returned home due to a family emergency. His unavailability could open the door for vice-captain Axar Patel to feature in the playing eleven.
India’s path to the semifinals now demands precision and authority. The clash against Zimbabwe offers an opportunity to reset — but only if the Men in Blue deliver the ruthless performance their campaign suddenly requires.
