Nagpur: The Indian Cricket Team landed in the Orange City on Sunday morning to gear up for their first match against New Zealand in the ICC World Twenty20. The number one-ranked team did face a hiccup when they lost the nail-biting warm up match against the Proteas by four runs at the Wankhede on Saturday.
The loss shouldn’t bother Team India much as India were totally concentrating on giving each player equal match time in the middle.
Remember, veteran Ashish Nehra and premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin too didn’t have a bowl in Mumbai.
The Indian contingent is put up at the Le Meriden hotel stones throw away from Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha stadium, which will play host to the first Super 10 Group B encounter.
Last night dinner with the boys while Harbhajan Singh and Virat Kohli Kohli are busy on there phone Rohit Sharma is showing his no off !
Posted by Yuvraj Singh on Monday, 14 March 2016
The Indian batsmen were toiling hard on the pitch with excessive throwdowns and fielding practice under the watchful eyes of Team Director Ravi Shastri and skipper MS Dhoni.
The Run Machine in action - Virat Kohli #IND at #WT20
Posted by Indian Cricket Team on Monday, 14 March 2016
Watch IT!!! The Gabbar gets going in the nets - Shikhar Dhawan #IND at #WT20
Posted by Indian Cricket Team on Monday, 14 March 2016
Meanwhile, the hotel too was playing an equal part in their preparation.
“We have come up with good luck personalised pillows. Each pillow has a face of a member of Team India and are they are kept in their rooms,” Shiv Bose, General Manager of Le Meridien told this correspondent in an exclusive chat on Tuesday.
Indian cricketers receive a special treatment from team hotel in Nagpur. (Photo: Le Meridien)
The five-star hotel has also designed a special pillow for the ICC World Twenty20. (Photo: Le Meridien)
“For the support staff we have kept general pillows,” he added.
The New Zealand team, however, are making themselves comfortable under the hospitality of the other five-star hotel.
Players such as Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan among others are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that they remain fit and raring to go on Tuesday.
Although the hotel authorities have not prepared specific dishes around the players, the diet mostly includes a blend of carbohydrates and soups.
“Due to security aspect, we can’t have a food show for the Indian players,” Bose said.
Complacency is the name of the game going into big tournaments such as ICC events and members of the Team were seen coming for meals to the breakfast foyer having serious discussions.
“There is an upbeat feeling in the hotel. The players are caught up with their schedules. Sometimes they come in groups, otherwise they come alone and go back to their room,” Bose added.
Earlier, in Mumbai, southpaw Shikhar Dhawan was snapped by a few shutterbugs diving into the pool at the Trident. However, Bose didn’t happen to see any player take a dip in the pool here to calm their nerves down.
The 2007 champions have been on a roll in the shortest format of the game winning their last three series on the trot. However, Dhoni's men will be wary of the fact that they have never beaten Kiwis in T20s in four outings in the past.
The 44,900 capacity Jamtha stadium has been sold out and India would be a huge threat to the rest of the competitors. A win in their own backyard will certainly set the ball rolling for the rest of the tournament unless Kane Williamson and his boys are adamant to keep statistics in place.
On a batting-friendly strip, a run-fest awaits and a good doze on the good luck pillows might be that unearthed element for an Indian win.
