WT20: One-arm bowler Gurudas Raut shocks Ind, NZ during practice

Nagpur The India and New Zealand teams had a special inspirational figure amongst them during their training session on the eve of the ICC World T20 opener here yesterdayNet bowler Gurudas Raut who is also captain of the Indian team for disabled cricket with New Zealand batsman Grant Elliot at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur yesterday PicsHarit N JoshiThe teams were pleasantly surprised to see a net bowler with one hand running into to bowl at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium VCA nets The net bowler was Gurudas Raut skipper of the Indian disabled cricket teamI bowled to the Indian team for the first time in 2012 before the India vs England Test and was delighted to claim the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar my idol and the reason why I play cricket said 28yearold Raut who has an amputated left handSeeing Raut bowl in the nets yesterday lifted the spirit of the New Zealanders Kane Williamson NZ skipper and Grant Elliot were shocked to see me They saluted my spirit for taking up the sport and wished me well said Raut who was part of the Indian team that whitewashed South Africa 60 in 2014 The kit for thattour was sponsored by India skipper MS DhoniDhoni sir and Sachin sir said we the disabled cricketers are their inspiration because despite so many shortcomings we follow our dreams Sachin sir saluted my junoon passion said RautTeam India adds another masseurThe Indian team management has added another member to their support staff for the ICC World T20 With one masseur Arun Kanade not enough for the squad the team management added Rajeev Kumar as an additional masseur to keep the squad fit and ready to cope with the rigours of international crickets shortest format It is learnt that one masseur was simply not enough to meet the needs of the entire playing squad hence the additionNew BCCI masseur Rajeev Kumar works on Yuvraj Singh in Nagpur yesterdayWhat is Bhuvneshwar doing with Team IndiaTeam India seem to be making it a habit to have an extra player in their ranks mdash outside the 15 as per International Cricket Councils ICC norms at world events In the 2015 World Cup which was played in Australia and New Zealand India had Mumbai bowler Dhawal Kulkarni as backup in case of the pacers landed on the injured listFor the ICC World T20 Team India have kept back Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was Mohammed Shamis replacement in the Asia Cup T20 squad for Shami had failed to recover fully from the Grade II injury to his left hamstring which he suffered during the limited overs tour to Australia earlier this yearBhuvneshwar did not bowl in the main nets but preferred to roll his arm over in an arena behind the stadium Kulkarnis stay with the Indian team during the 2015 World Cup cost the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI R2 crore which they paid to the ICC for keeping him as an extra player in the squad Keeping Bhuvneshwar in the team has raised concerns whether Shami is fully fitNZ batting coach Craig McMillan wears a helmet at nets yesterday Coaching with helmetsIts not just the players who ensure they are well protected from external injuries Even the coaches seem particular about their safety Former allrounder Craig McMillan the batting coach of the Kiwis wore a helmet during nets yesterday With the batsmen looking to smash the ball as hard as they can while preparing for a T20 match McMillans safetyfirst approach seems practical