Indians practise running between wickets

Having paid a heavy price for the three run-outs in the second One-Day International against Australia in Pune on Wednesday, the Indian team on Thursday had an extensive session of running between the wickets ahead of the third match at Indore on Saturday.

Team manager Chetan Chauhan said the players specifically practised running between the wickets for 45 minutes to ensure better co-ordination between the batsmen at the crease. Three Indian batsmen were run out at crucial junctures in the Pune match which India lost by eight wickets for the five-match series to be levelled at 1-1.

Chauhan said the team was hoping to put up a better batting display at Indore and set a target of around 300 if it batted first. "Since it is a batting wicket and the outfield is also well prepared, a target of 300 runs would be ideal for the match," Chauhan told reporters after net practice.

The former Test opener said the lack of a genuine all-rounder of the calibre of former captain Kapil Dev had hampered the team's performance. "There was some hope from Virendra Shewag (man-of-match in the first game at Bangalore), but he got injured." Chauhan said it was only a matter of time before Sourav Ganguly got his touch back. "Ups and downs do come in the career of everyone and there is nothing more about it."

On the injury to the Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid, Chauhan said: "Dravid, who was kept under observation for a day after being hit on his shin while fielding in the second match in Pune yesterday, has recovered fully." He added: "The entire team is fit."