Jansen twins get the Kohli nod of approval

There are days when we're all Wasim Akram. For 17-year-old Marco Jansen, Monday (January 22) was that day. He and his twin brother Duan were asked for by Ravi Shastri and his support staff for a second successive day to bowl at the Indian batsmen in the nets. Their first day had ended with pats on the back and a congratulatory message. The second day began with a special prize - a new ball. India seldom offer those to net bowlers in a fast-bowling net also featuring their five Test-level quicks plus two first-class cricketers - Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur - summoned for the very reason.

Far away to the left of the nets, under the shade of the trees, waited Koos Jansen, the father of the two left-arm quicks. The net, that unheralded stalwart of the sport, was to provide a tale of magnificence for his sons. While he shifted eagerly in his spot, Duan - the elder of the two lanky brothers by 15 minutes - began proceedings with a good length delivery to India's superstar captain