[Watch] Team India engage in fun fielding drill with cash prize ahead of BGT 2024-25 4th Test
Team India's preparations are in full swing ahead of the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Melbourne. On Monday, December 23, the team released a video on their social media, in which the players are seen getting involved in a fun fielding drill with fielding coach T Dilip.
The players had to target stumps, with the bigger stump having one point, the smaller stump having two points, and a ball in the center having four points. In the video, Dilip can be heard saying:
"Today's target, you can see three stumps. The bigger stump will have one point, the smaller stump will have two points, the ball in the centre will have four points. We are using angles today. You can see three markers. From each marker each one will go six balls."
T Dilip further mentioned that there would be a cash prize of $300, adding an element of competition. The players were divided into three groups. Srafaraz Khan was the captain of Group 1 while Mohammed Siraj and Dhruv Jurel led the other two groups.
The groups were as follows -
Group 1 - Sarfaraz Khan (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Harshit Rana, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Group 2 - Mohammed Siraj (c), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Group 3 - Dhruv Jurel (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar.
Dilip added that the players loved competition and youngsters were chosen as captains to ensure everyone gelled well together.
"The key objective for me today was getting all together and making sure that before we kick off into the nets we get some energy going and together as a group when we work its outstanding," he said.
The Indian team members engaged in fun fielding drills, displaying competitive spirit, and had a solid bonding throughout. Dhruv Jurel's group was declared the winner.
Team India gear up for crucial fourth BGT 2024-25 Test in Melbourne
After winning the first BGT 2024-25 Test in Perth, India faced a heavy defeat in the second Test in Adelaide as the hosts bounced back to level the series. With several rain interruptions, the third Test at The Gabba ended in a draw.
With the series leveled at 1-1, the fourth Test in Melbourne becomes all the more important before the final Test in Sydney. Jasprit Bumrah has been India's key bowler but others need to deliver more consistently.
Similarly, KL Rahul has been the standalone consistent performer with the bat. The visitors will have to address the batting issues ahead of the fourth Test if they are to put up a better display.