(Source X)
The Indian Cricket Team commenced their initial training session with newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday, July 23. The session saw star all-rounder Hardik Pandya making waves for both positive and unexpected reasons in anticipation of the upcoming three-match T20I series.
Nevertheless, the practice didn’t proceed without incident, as Pandya and a member of the coaching staff under Gambhir were involved in a heated exchange that threatened to escalate into a serious argument. Fortunately, media personnel intervened swiftly, diffusing the tension with their timely intervention.
Hardik Pandya had a heated argument with Rohit Sharma’s close aide during the first India nets session led by Gautam Gambhir.
During a simulated practice session reported by a RevSports journalist, a contentious moment arose when Hardik Pandya struck a shot through the point region and asserted it was a boundary. However, Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar differed, citing the presence of a fielder strategically placed in that zone.
The disagreement persisted between Nayar and Pandya regarding the decision, leading the all-rounder to inquire about the precise position of the fielder. In response, the assistant coach gestured towards the location of a reporter clad in a red T-shirt, indicating where the fielder had been positioned during the simulation at Pallekele.
In the end, the situation led them to seek the opinion of media personnel. Nayar, responding to Pandya’s insistence, approached the reporter to clarify the details of the shot. The journalist then provided their assessment. “If you have placed your fielder here, then it’s a boundary.” His response prompted both Hardik and Nayar to burst into laughter.
In the end, Hardik emerged victorious in the simulation practice. Following the session, the Indian all-rounder and Nayar engaged in an extended conversation with the reporter. Despite recent developments, including his exclusion from India’s T20I captaincy and announcement of his divorce from Natasa Stankovic, Hardik remained focused on dissecting the details of his shot.
Hardik Pandya and Gautam Gambhir’s lengthy conversation steals the show.
During India’s inaugural training session in Sri Lanka under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, Hardik engaged in a lengthy discussion. Later, he spent about 40 minutes bowling to Indian openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the nets, closely observed by Gambhir and Nayar on Tuesday.
Gill and Jaiswal, both top-order batsmen, were encouraged to begin attacking from the outset. Reports suggest the Indian team underwent an extensive three-hour training session in preparation for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, commencing on July 27.
