Hit-Man Zone: Rohit Sharma prepares for his match against Shaheen Shah Afridi with an extended practise session

Perhaps that’s why he was trying so hard not to hit any horizontal bat shots, which is a recipe for disaster against someone like Shaheen, who will not only bowl fast but also swing it late and at a brisk pace. The nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground are slightly different from those at other stadiums in that one can only get a top-angle view of them and it always appears as if players are training at a massive well.
On Friday, the Indian team had an optional net session, and it was the skipper who drew the attention of the 30-odd spectators as he entered the arena. Rohit worked out for nearly an hour and a half, with Dinesh Karthik for company. While Karthik, India’s designated white-ball finisher, did some simulation training with some high-risk lap scoop and reverse lap scoop shots and pull shots after a normal net session, Rohit’s session was far more interesting.
Even when he left a few deliveries alone in between shots, it never appeared monotonous. Rohit Sharma’s profession isn’t batting. It is his true love. T20 may be a slam-bang version, but the discipline of a marathon runner is required for success.After a brief break, Rohit returned to the nets, this time facing the sharp left-arm throwdown of Sri Lankan specialist Nuwan Seneviratne. Nuwan was seen muscling the throwdowns at breakneck speed and angled it in from 18 yards out, but Rohit was up to the task each time.
He never seemed wary or rushed into his shot. The trigger was present, but there was no early commitment to the stroke. There are no guarantees in cricket, as there are in life, and thus how well things will go against Pakistan cannot be predicted. But one thing is certain: Rohit Sharma is not leaving any stone unturned in his efforts to put the heat on Shaheen Shah Afridi.