India's Test Preparations Intensify Amidst Heat

Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill

NEW DELHI: India's preparations for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan gathered momentum on Thursday, with the team putting in a demanding training session despite the intense heat. The Test match begins on Saturday and will be followed by a three-match ODI series. One of the biggest positives for India was the sight of Mohammed Siraj bowling at full intensity for nearly 25 minutes alongside Prasidh Krishna, according to a report from news agency PTI. With concerns raised about player workload after a long IPL season, Siraj’s energetic spell suggested the senior fast bowler is fit and ready for the challenge ahead.

Pacers impress in the nets

Apart from Siraj and Prasidh, tall pacer Gurnoor Brar also made an impression during the session. The fast bowler generated sharp bounce and troubled KL Rahul on a couple of occasions, forcing edges outside the off stump. Despite those moments, Rahul looked solid and comfortable during his time at the crease. Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar also spent considerable time bowling in the nets. He focused on maintaining accuracy and consistency, delivering multiple spells while sticking to disciplined line and length. Meanwhile, all the specialist batters, including captain Shubman Gill, got valuable practice against the reserve bowlers as India fine-tuned its preparations ahead of the series opener.

Spin battle and Mayank's return

A notable feature of the training session was the attention given to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey. The team management appeared keen to assess his batting ability as he spent a significant amount of time with the bat. Dubey and fellow left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who is also in contention for a place in the playing XI, bowled in adjacent nets under the watchful eye of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Their performances could play a key role in determining India's spin combination for the Test. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav was also present with the squad. However, the youngster, who has dealt with several injury setbacks in recent years, focused mainly on fitness and conditioning drills rather than an extended bowling session.

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