Table of Contents
As Team India gears up for their final T20I series against Afghanistan before the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, they face an unexpected adversary in the form of the biting cold in Mohali. With fog enveloping most of North India during the winter peak, the players at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium found themselves bundled up in hoodies, jackets, and warmers during practice sessions, often battling low visibility.
Chilling conditions challenge Team India ahead of first T20I against Afghanistan
Head coach Rahul Dravid himself sported multiple layers of clothing and a woollen skullcap to combat the freezing conditions. The players, grateful for the comfort of gloves, injected humor into their foggy training environment.
Axar Patel’s temperature banter
In a video shared by BCCI on social media platform X, left-arm spinner Axar Patel, while rubbing his hands to stay warm, inquired about the temperature. A staff member responded with “It’s 12 degrees,” to which Axar, seemingly astonished, jokingly remarked, “12? It feels like 6 degrees,” The banter highlighted the bone-chilling cold experienced by the players.
Players’ hilarious take on the cold
Arshdeep Singh, a Punjab native, humorously claimed to feel warm, mockingly spreading cold air from his mouth towards the camera. Shubman Gill initially downplayed the cold but quickly corrected himself, admitting the freezing temperatures. Rinku Singh shared his contrasting experience coming from a warm Ranji Trophy game in Kerala, describing the Mohali cold as intense.
Also READ: IND vs AFG 2024, 1st T20I: Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium Pitch Report, Mohali Weather Forecast, T20I Stats & Records | India vs Afghanistan
Coach Rahul Dravid’s struggle
Coach Rahul Dravid, hailing from Bangalore, expressed his struggle with the freezing conditions, stating, “It’s too cold. I am from Bangalore, and it’s too freezing here,” However, spinner Washington Sundar, accustomed to Chennai’s milder climate, found the weather relatively easy to handle.
Spinners’ grip challenge
Left-arm chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav acknowledged the difficulty spinners face in gripping the ball due to the cold. Kuldeep emphasized the challenge, particularly for spinners, in opening up their bodies and maintaining a good grip. Facing this unique weather challenge, Team India prepares for the T20I series against Afghanistan with a touch of humor and resilience.
Here’s the video:
Jacket 🧥 ON
Warmers ON
Gloves 🧤 ON #TeamIndia have a funny take on their "chilling" ❄️🥶 training session in Mohali. #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/rWeodTeDr2— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2024
