Shelters at Stormont. (PC: RevSportz)
Ahead of the second T20I in Belfast, the Indian team was deprived of additional training due to poor weather and dampness in the outfield. A group of players were expected to take part in the session. However, since this was optional, not everyone had to be present before the match.
The visitors were due to train at Stormont from 2pm local time on Saturday. However, poor ground conditions forced a later change in plans.
After training was cancelled, many players decided to make the most of their free time by relaxing indoors. Despite the occasional cloud cover, some decided to explore the city as they did on June 25, a day before the first T20I.
A humiliating defeat to Ireland in the first match of the two-match series has raised several questions about the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian team. From team selection to lack of adaptability to missed chances on the field, very little went in India’s favor. Ireland, to their credit, outclassed their opponents in all three departments and made history by beating India for the first time in international cricket.
The short break between the two matches leaves little time for preparation, which made the extra session even more important for players like Suryansh Shedge, who arrived in Ireland on the day of the first T20I. This would have been Shedge’s first training session in Ireland. It also provided an opportunity to the players who were on the bench for the first match of the series, including Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi.
Now, it will be interesting to see what the Indian team management does with team selection given the series in Belfast on Sunday.
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