Jaiswal takes three-net approach; focus on Starc challenge

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal's Net Session Ahead of MCG Test

Rohit Sharma was seen interacting with a large number of Indian fans gathered around the MCG nets, where he had just finished a lengthy stint in the nets, mainly facing throwdowns through his 40-minute hit. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener, sat quietly on one of the white chairs placed on the sidelines of the nets area, not too concerned with anything else happening around him.

Jaiswal insisted on facing only Nuwan Seneviratne, the long-serving left-arm throwdown specialist from Sri Lanka, for nearly 20 minutes. His main focus was on consciously leaving deliveries on and around a virtual fourth or fifth stump line, while still trying to play forceful shots off any delivery that landed in his half and was in line of the stumps.

The highlight of this chapter of Jaiswal's three-net approach to preparing for the MCG Test was a damaging cover drive off a full delivery, which he'll be trying to replicate come Thursday against the real Starc. After the pseudo Starc net was done, Jaiswal immediately turned to one of the right-arm throwdown specialists and got him to chuck deliveries at him like he was Scott Boland.

Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, finished his session in the nets with a couple of very confident forward defensive strokes before picking up his bats and walking off, once again in no real discomfort. He even took a break from his own batting to admire, advise, and commend Akash Deep for his bat-swing and power-hitting ability in the adjoining net.

Key Takeaways

• Jaiswal's focus was on facing Nuwan Seneviratne and leaving deliveries on and around a virtual fourth or fifth stump line.
• He successfully executed a damaging cover drive off a full delivery.
• Jaiswal also played a defensive prod to a slightly full delivery before heading to head coach Gautam Gambhir for words of wisdom.
• Rohit Sharma finished his session in the nets with a couple of confident forward defensive strokes and took a break to admire Akash Deep's batting ability.