Former batting coach Sanjay Bangar disclosed that Virat Kohli’s England preparation involved pouring extra water on Mumbai pitches to mimic swing and moisture. The rigorous regime helped Indian batsmen succeed in past England tours, and now the side hopes to bounce back in the upcoming ODI series after a disappointing T20 campaign.
Key Takeaways
- Kohli’s Mumbai sessions used extra water to recreate English pitch conditions.
- Early‑morning drills captured dew and heavy air for realistic swing practice.
- This preparation was credited for India’s improved batting performances in England.
New Delhi – India’s white‑ball tour of the United Kingdom has started on a sour note, with a 0‑2 whitewash by Ireland and a 0‑3 deficit against England in the five‑match T20 series. As the fifth T20 looms, the focus has already shifted to the three‑match ODI series in Birmingham, where seasoned campaigners Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will lead the batting under Shubman Gill’s captaincy.
Bangar’s Inside Story
Speaking on Doordarshan’s “The Great Indian Cricket Show,” former batting coach Sanjay Bangar recalled how Kohli completely overhauled his preparation after a disappointing 2014 England tour. “When you go to England, the whole game comes down to two things – how well you counter the swing and how late you can play the ball,” Bangar explained. Determined to fix the shortcomings, Kohli invested heavily in a 2017‑18 regimen that mimicked English conditions on Mumbai grounds.
Early‑Morning Drills and Extra Water
Bangar revealed that the team would start sessions as early as 6:00 am to chase the early dew and exploit the heavy morning atmosphere. “We wanted to replicate the English environment – the moisture on an uncovered pitch and the dense air,” he said. When the sun began to dry the surface, the coaching staff literally poured additional water onto the pitch to keep the ball “snaking” around, ensuring the swing factor remained constant.
Impact on Performance
According to Bangar, Kohli embraced these grueling drills repeatedly, striving for technical perfection against the swinging ball. “Virat did that gruelling practice repeatedly,” he noted. The former coach believes those exact simulations were pivotal in India’s past successes in England, allowing three or four core batsmen to fine‑tune their techniques and win crucial matches.
Future Implications
As India’s young batting line‑up struggles in seam‑friendly conditions during the current T20 series, the upcoming ODIs present a chance for Kohli and Sharma to translate the Mumbai water‑drip regimen into runs on English soil. Bangar hinted that such scientific, condition‑specific preparation could become a template for future tours, underscoring a shift from talent‑only approaches to data‑driven, environment‑focused training.
