The Indian cricket team had their second training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Monday as they prepare for their opening match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh. 

While Rishabh Pant had recovered from a freak injury sustained during Sunday’s first training session, which had initially raised concerns for his participation in the tournament, he appeared to be in discomfort during Monday’s session. As a result, he skipped his wicketkeeping training.

The injury occurred on Sunday when Hardik Pandya was honing his big-hitting skills and struck a powerful shot that hit Pant on the knee. The team’s physio, Kamlesh Jain, promptly attended to him, with Pandya also coming over to check on Pant. 

Despite the scare, Pant recovered quickly and was back in action, padding up after the first set of batters completed their training session.

However, on Monday, Pant seemed to be struggling and was seen limping slightly during the second net session. According to reports, he skipped both wicketkeeping and fielding drills, and when he came to bat, he appeared a little rusty, missing several deliveries and edging others.

In the meantime, KL Rahul focused on improving his skills for the finisher’s role in the team. Although head coach Gautam Gambhir has supported Rahul as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy, there is still uncertainty over whether Rahul will bat at No. 5 or 6 in the lineup. 

Understanding the importance of his role in the final overs, Rahul worked on his big-hitting abilities during the session, effortlessly clearing the ropes with powerful sixes.

Shreyas Iyer also worked on his big-hitting skills, while Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma displayed excellent form, playing an array of elegant strokes. The players were seen refining their techniques ahead of the crucial tournament opener.

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