New Delhi: India’s preparations for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan gathered pace on Thursday, with the team undergoing a rigorous training session despite the scorching heat. The Test match will begin on Saturday and will be followed by a three-match ODI series.According to a report by news agency PTI, the biggest positive for India was seeing Mohammad Siraj bowling with Prasad Krishna with intensity for about 25 minutes. With concerns about the players’ workload after a long IPL season, Siraj’s spirited spell suggested that the senior fast bowler is fit and ready for the challenge ahead.
Pacers impress in net.
Apart from Siraj and Parsed, tall fast bowler Gurnor Brar also impressed during the session. The fast bowler produced quick bounce and troubled KL Rahul on a couple of occasions, forcing the edges outside the off-stump. Despite these moments, Rahul looked solid and comfortable during his time at the crease.Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aqib Nabi Dar also spent a lot of time bowling in the nets. He focused on delivering multiple spells while maintaining accuracy and consistency, sticking to disciplined line and length.Meanwhile, all the specialist batsmen, including skipper Shibman Gill, got valuable practice against the reserve bowlers as India fine-tuned their preparations ahead of the series opener.
Spin Jung and Mayank’s comeback.
A notable feature of the training session was the focus on left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey. The team management seemed eager to evaluate his batting ability as he spent a lot of time with the bat.Dubey and fellow left-arm spinner Manav Sathar, who is also in contention for a place in the playing XI, bowled in adjacent nets under the supervision of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Their performance could play a key role in determining India’s spin combination for the Tests.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 exercises rather than a long bowling session.
