India, Feb. 24 -- So attuned is the mind to watching Abhishek Sharma opening the batting that it was taken for granted that India's practice session too would be no different. It was though. In the backdrop of Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan starting in adjacent nets, Abhishek cut a stark picture wheeling left-arm dollies that were promptly dispatched to the yellow grand stands of the Chepauk stadium.

Outside, Sanju Samson started taking throwdowns before he was joined by Suryakumar Yadav. Is that India's top-four for Thursday? Or just a quirk of Tuesday's training plans? With Tinku Singh having to rush home as his father is seriously ill and a doubt against Zimbabwe, all three top-order batters could well play.

Abhishek did bat, but much ...