India wait on Abhishek Sharma's recovery; Bumrah bowls again

Two days out from the league stage game against Namibia in Delhi, India's first training session at the national capital offered a glimpse of what might come on Thursday. Abhishek Sharma, who played against USA in Mumbai, has battled a stomach-related illness and did not come out to train.

"Abhi [Abhishek Sharma] has still got a few issues with his tummy, we hope that he'll be available for the game," India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said before the session.

If India's nets routine from match minus-two day is anything to go by, Abhishek might not be rushed back. There's of course Wednesday's training left to see but India have often practiced full throttle two days from a game and in the batting order of their choice for the match.

On Tuesday evening, under lights, Ishan Kishan walked out to bat first and had Sanju Samson following him to play in tandem in the pace bowlers' net where they faced Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh and a tall, broad-shouldered left-arm net bowler - perhaps to replicate the angles created by Namibia's all-phase quick Ruben Trumplemann. Over at the spinners net, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav batted together to make up India's potential top-four.

Samson has had a dramatic last few weeks culminating in losing his opener's spot in India's first World Cup game in Mumbai. His lack of runs and Kishan's flying form coincided and he has had to be relegated to the bench, at least at the start of the tournament.

"Look, I think at this level you need to be honest and transparent. I mean, the way the cards have fallen, I think Sanju's had all the support that he could possibly have had," ten Doeschate said.

"He went through that phase where we tried him in the middle order and then he obviously had the reprieve when he came back [to top]. And unfortunately with the high level of cricket these guys play, when someone like Ishan comes in and has a series [against new Zealand] like he has, it's pretty obvious what the selection is going to be for that first game. But we also understand that there's probably five or six more games that you have to win and all 15 members are vitally crucial to our ambitions."

Samson had a 30-odd minute hit against the fast bowlers, where he began tentatively, as has been the case in the matches lately where a pronounced trigger movement has hindered his shot-making. He toned that down a touch on Tuesday but took a while before he could middle the ball properly. He eventually sent a length ball from Hardik over extra cover and flicked with authority against Arshdeep. Shortly after, the two sets of batters switched places as Samson and Kishan walked over to face India's left-arm throwdown specialist Nuwan Seneviratne and the spin pair of Varun CV and Axar Patel. Samson found better rhythm in this net, particularly against the spinners as he stepped out with confidence to hit on both sides of the wicket. That might serve him well should he play against Namibia, who tend to use Bernard Scholtz, a left-arm spinner, in the PowerPlay.

With Jasprit Bumrah, meanwhile, there's more hope for readiness. "Bumrah will bowl today, he's been off 10 days without bowling, but he's feeling a lot better and moving a lot better, so we'll see how training goes for them and get the team together," ten Doeschate said.

A little over an hour into India's session, Bumrah bowled to Suryakumar and Tilak at the pacer's net and showed no signs of illness that kept him out in Mumbai. He operated for around 25 minutes and came away without any issues. India then continued to send out their batters in order, as Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya replaced the top-four in the two nets.