TimesofIndia.com at Milanpur: Three days after the IPL final, Team India is trying to end 75 days of muscle memory. Late nights, late morning starts and the T20 instincts that dominate the league have been replaced by early breakfasts, long net sessions and the demands of red ball cricket. Before facing Afghanistan, Indian players are battling the lingering effects of the first IPL grind.Eight cricketers from India’s 15-man squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan were included along with IPL 2026 finalists Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT). Seven of them, including captain Shibman Gul, fast bowler Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, opener Sai Sudarshan, and all-rounder Washington Sundar played for GT in the final. While Dev Dutt Padikal stood out for RCB. And after a few days, the Test squad has assembled in Chandigarh and started their preparations for the Red Ball competition.The scheduling is punishing the cricketers. And this is just the beginning.Later this year, India travel to New Zealand for a tri-format tour from October 22 to December 1. The turnaround between India’s fifth ODI and the first Test against the Kiwis is just three days. The fifth ODI is scheduled for November 15 and the first Test of the two-match series will begin on November 19.Assistant Coach of Team India Ryan Ten Duschet said on Thursday that the scheduling issue has been addressed, and strength and conditioning coach Adrien Le Roux has devised a special plan for the players to get over the IPL hangover.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir (L) during a practice session ahead of the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. (PTI)
“That’s a very good point. As you say, the time cycle of the IPL is very different from what Test matches require. The boys have three days to do it,” he told reporters on Thursday.“They had their initial training session on Wednesday. Today is (Thursday). [the] Afternoon tomorrow (Friday) then morning. Tomorrow will be optional. I think the boys have taken it upon themselves to get up early. I’ve seen a lot of guys around the breakfast room in the last couple of days.“Adrian (Le Roux) scheduled some gym stuff early in the morning to force the boys to get up and adjust their time slots. These people are good professionals. They know what is required and will be adjusting accordingly to ensure they are ready on Saturday morning for the Test match and an early start.”According to Ten Doeschate, managing the sleep cycle has emerged as one of the biggest challenges during the transition, especially after IPL.“Our job is just to prepare the players that are ahead of them. The sleep cycle is probably at the top of the list, and that’s being addressed,” Ten Duschet said.But changing sleeping patterns is only part of the process. According to the former Holland all-rounder, the big task is to help the players shed their T20 habits and rediscover patience and discipline for Test cricket.“But I guess from a white-to-red-ball point of view or from the IPL to the Test match cricket is really killing them, and that’s what it’s been like these three days,” he said.
From a white-to-red-ball perspective or the IPL to Test match cricket is really killing them, and that’s what it’s been like these three days.
Ryan Ten Duschet
“You want to make sure people are making decisions based on where the ball is placed. You want to make some technical adjustments to how you set up and how you maintain your bat shape and all that stuff,” explained Ten-Douchet.India’s training sessions over the past few days have reflected this philosophy. Longer batting practice, slip-catching practice and extended bowling spells have replaced the explosive, fast-paced routines associated with T20 cricket.“That’s what the last two days and obviously today and tomorrow have been about,” Ten-Douchet said.“Just detoxing people, making sure that the habits that are necessary to be successful in white-ball cricket are put to bed and they focus on playing proper Test cricket.”
Mohammad Siraj during the practice session ahead of the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan at Milanpur. (PTI)
Ten Doeschate also acknowledged the unique challenge of jumping straight from the IPL to a single Test in sweltering heat conditions. While he stopped short of calling it ideal preparation, he supported the players’ adoption.“I don’t think good or bad is worth considering. It is definitely a challenge,” he said.The assistant coach of the Indian cricket team pointed out that Indian players rarely shy away from difficult assignments, be it technical, tactical or mental. “You play an IPL final five days ago at night, and now you have to start a Test match early in the morning in 34-35 degrees. Just another challenge on the road and the boys will take it as usual,” he added.
