WTC Final | Indian Players Trained with Dukes Ball During IPL 2023, Reveals Axar Patel
Virat Kohli in action with Dukes [Twitter]
With just under a week remaining for the start of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 between India and Australia, players of both teams have been seen sweating it out in England, training with full force.
All-rounder Axar Patel, who was amongst the first to reach England, speaking to ICC revealed that Indian players during the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 practiced with Dukes ball, to get accustomed. The Delhi Capitals (DC) vice-captain further stated that it will be tough for players to adjust to red-ball after playing two months of rigorous white-ball cricket.
Here's what Axar said
"So even during the IPL, it was discussed that we will bowl with the red ball. We had red balls, so we were using them. You know when and how to play, how much time you have. This mental switch from white ball to red ball is obviously tough, but we have enough time,
The difference is the Dukes ball remains shinier for longer. But during the IPL, we had ordered the ball, so were practising with it and have gotten used to it,"
However, Patel maintained that Indian players have enough time to prepare for the summit clash against Australia, given several players are arriving in batches, while working on various plans for bowling in English conditions during training.
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