Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has disclosed that Virat Kohli used to pour extra water on pitches in Mumbai to replicate English swing conditions during practice ahead of the 2018 tour of England. The revelation comes as India prepares for a three-match ODI series against England, starting July 14 at Edgbaston.
Kohli's rigorous preparation for English conditions
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Bangar provided behind-the-scenes insights into India's preparation for the 2018 tour. He noted that Kohli, who struggled during the 2014 tour of England, left no stone unturned to master the moving ball. The training routine began as early as 6:00 or 6:30 AM at a Mumbai ground to take advantage of the morning dew and heavy atmosphere.
“We wanted to start as early as possible so we could replicate English conditions, utilising the heavy morning atmosphere and the natural moisture on an uncovered pitch,” Bangar said. “If the sun came out and the moisture on the wicket started dropping, we would literally pour extra water onto the surface just to keep the ball snaking around.”
Simulation sessions key to success
Bangar emphasised that Kohli's obsession with perfection drove these gruelling practice sessions. Ajinkya Rahane also participated in some of them. “Because three or four of our core batsmen managed to fine-tune their batting through those exact simulations, we were highly successful in winning matches over there,” he added. The 2018 tour saw India win the Test series 2-1, with Kohli amassing 593 runs.
India's current form and upcoming series
India, led by Shreyas Iyer in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma, are coming off a T20I series against England where they suffered three consecutive defeats after the first match was washed out. The ODI series will be Kohli's first international assignment in nearly six months. The second ODI will be played in Cardiff on July 16, and the final match at Lord's on July 19.
