Captains hit the nets hard to end run drought.

The temperatures in the foothills of the Himalayas dropped to single digits on Saturday evening, but the heat was turned up inside the HPCA Stadium. While the South African team chose to skip training entirely, the Indian camp, specifically its leadership group, was hard at work ahead of the critical Ind vs SA 3rd T20I.

The five-match series is currently deadlocked at 1-1. Following a defeat in Mullanpur, the pressure is palpable within the Indian dressing room. This was evident as the optional training session turned into a grueling drill for captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy, Shubman Gill. Both batters are currently fighting to find their rhythm, and Saturday’s session was all about ironing out flaws before Sunday's encounter.

Suryakumar Yadav, whose batting average has hovered around 14 over the last year, was the first to take charge. He spent hours in the nets, initially focusing on facing spinners. This specific preparation suggests a shift in strategy. The experiment of sending Axar Patel at number three in the previous match failed to yield results, as Patel struggled to accelerate against spin. Judging by SKY's practice routine—filled with his signature sweeps and turns behind square—the captain looks ready to take on the responsibility of dismantling the spin attack himself in the middle overs.

On the other side of the nets, Shubman Gill was engaged in a relentless battle against pace. Gill, who hasn’t registered a 50-plus score in Indian colors since July 2024, looked determined to break his dry spell. He faced a barrage of deliveries from left-arm seamers and the side-arm specialist, specifically preparing for the threat posed by Marco Jansen. The South African pacer has troubled India throughout the tour with the ball angling in, and Gill spent considerable time consulting with coaches to perfect his defense against the moving ball.

Later in the evening, despite the biting cold, both captains moved to the main ground to practice power-hitting, sending balls sailing into the stands. While the loss in Mullanpur was only India's third defeat of the year, the lack of runs from the top order remains a worry. Fans will be hoping this intense preparation translates into a match-winning performance on Sunday night.