Samson bats, Rinku runs home as Indians regroup

Ahead of must-win Zimbabwe game, India go through the drill at Chennai

- Somshuvra Laha

So attuned is the mind to watching Abhishek Sharma opening the batting that it was taken for granted that India's practice session too would be no different.

It was though. In the backdrop of Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan starting in adjacent nets, Abhishek cut a stark picture wheeling left-arm dollies that were promptly dispatched to the yellow grand stands of the Chepauk stadium.

Outside, Sanju Samson started taking throwdowns before he was joined by Suryakumar Yadav. Is that India's topfour for Thursday? Or just a quirk of Tuesday's training plans? With Rinku Singh having to rush home as his father is seriously ill and a doubt against Zimbabwe, all three top-order batters could well play.

Abhishek did bat, but much after the other top-order batters had clocked in. Which is still quite a deviation from the usual routine. It could be deliberate given Abhishek's form has slipped into an abyss.

On his exploits used to hinge India's powerplay momentum, till Kishan joined and made India look unstoppable in the New Zealand series just before the World Cup. That script has gone for a toss now after scores of 0,0,0 and 15 from Abhishek, and India can't be faulted for starting to blink at the question whether the opening batting needs a reset.