Focus on goalkeeping as players train under lights

Adrian D’Souza and Shreejesh were missing more balls than they normally would. But then, it wasn’t a normal goalkeeping drill either. If Day One was all about drag-flicking, the focus on the second day was firmly on the goalkeepers, as the Indian team practised under lights at the National Stadium for the first time.

Marked by two close-in strikers on either side, D’Souza and Shreejesh faced a bowling machine as they were subjected to the task of stopping three back-to-back balls fired from different directions within the space of a couple of seconds.

To further increase the degree of difficulty, goalkeeping coach Romeo James, known for using innovative techniques, added a screen between the custodians and the machine so that they couldn’t see the angle at which the ball was thrown at them.

The drill lasted nearly 30 minutes and the difference was palpable, with D’Souza and Shreejesh blocking Prabhjot’s spot hits on several occasions.

The drag-flickers, meanwhile, weren’t entirely out of action as they fed their other team mates who were practising intercepting long hits.

Day Two of the camp, clearly more rigorous than the first day, was rounded off with another short practice match.