In preparation for the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam starting February 2, India's batters have been training rigorously. A particular emphasis on sweep and reverse shots was evident during their net sessions. Since the batting department struggled significantly in the first Test, many enthusiasts and experts are anticipating a strong comeback to level the score in the series.
Indian batters were seen training hard in the nets ahead of the second Test against England, starting on February 2, Friday at Dr. Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. A few batters were seen practicing the sweep and reverse shots continuously. It was the batting unit that led India down in the first Test and many Cricket experts and fans feel that the Indian batters would bounce back strong in the second Test to level the series.
Wednesday's media briefing ahead of the second Test was largely focused on the dip in performance from Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Vikram Rathour, the batting coach, used the occasion to share his guidance and expectations for India's premier batsmen.
Vikram Rathour stepped up to support Gill and Iyer, suggesting that the public and critics should be more patient given their lack of extensive Test experience. The 54-year-old mentor assured the press that he is certain Jaiswal, Iyer, and Gill will find their rhythm and start posting high scores soon.
Rathour explained that playing with intent is not the same as blindly attacking. He wants his players to be purposeful—taking advantage of scoring opportunities while remaining mindful of the pitch and environmental conditions. He stressed the importance of 'game intelligence,' noting that batters must analyze the surface to choose the safest and most effective shots. Ultimately, he believes the players must trust their own strengths and execute a well-thought-out plan to get the runs on the board.