India-England Rajkot Test Net Practice: Ben Stokes Addresses Visa Issues at Rajkot Airport

The third match of the ongoing Test series between India and England is scheduled to take place on February 15th at the Khanderi Stadium in Rajkot. In preparation for advancing their 2-1 lead in the series, both teams have initiated net practice sessions with their players starting today. Consistent practice sessions have been underway for both teams since early morning, with the Indian team practicing in the morning and the English team in the afternoon.

England’s captain, Ben Stokes, held a press conference where he mentioned that Rehan Ahmed has received his visa this morning. Two days ago, he faced immigration issues due to a single-entry visa at Hirasar Airport.

Jasprit Bumrah’s Remarkable Performance in the Series Stands Out

Jasprit Bumrah’s performance has been particularly commendable in this series. It has been revealed that due to the team’s decision to include an additional pacemaker, Mark Wood’s use could be considered separately from the first test. Jasprit Bumrah’s performance has been exceptional in this series. Our team’s players are studying his tactics closely. Virat Kohli is currently absent, but we wish that the best player joins us soon. I hope he comes to the field soon and we play together.

Local Talent Jadeja Draws Attention in Today’s Net Practice

In today’s net practice session, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and K.S. Bharat, along with other players, were seen honing their skills. It is noteworthy that local lad Jadeja has been the center of attention on the home ground, owing to his familiarity with the pitch and field. This enables him to deliver exceptional performances here, garnering significant attention and admiration.

After practice, Ravindra Jadeja addressed the press. He stated, “I am fit, hence I am here. The wicket at the Rajkot Stadium is hard. Preparation against England is crucial for us. From the beginning to the end of the match, it is expected that the wicket will gradually deteriorate.”

Expectations Due to My Fielding

Due to my fielding abilities, expectations are high on me. Furthermore, I have expressed that in the current match, I will make an effort not to dive unnecessarily to avoid injury. I will strive to give a 100% performance in the match. The outstanding performance of the team in the last match should be repeated this time as well. 

Expectations are there because of my fielding. Wherever I am positioned, more balls come towards me. There is an expectation to stop runs and make catches. In the first match of this series, we lost due to minor mistakes. Perhaps, if attention had been paid to those minor details, we could have won the match.

Our Focus on Line Length

Regarding England’s team, it has been stated that the current team is different, which will require time to understand. Therefore, we will formulate strategies accordingly. Keeping it simple, even if they attempt to vary, our focus on line length will remain to secure wickets. The team has welcomed new young players who have performed well in first-class cricket. 

Hence, there is speculation about how long the innings should be. Currently, it’s considered a good time to play in India. Ashwin is expected to reach 500 wickets. I have been playing with him for 12 years, and it will be a proud moment for me if he achieves this record at our home ground.

England Team Engages in Net Practice Session

Today, the England cricket team conducted a net practice session at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, located on Jamnagar Road, after departing from their Fortune hotel in Rajkot. During the practice, notable players including team captain Ben Stokes, Jack Crawley, James Anderson, Joe Root, and Jonny Bairstow were observed actively participating and refining their skills on the field.