Just two days after triumphantly lifting the Asia Cup, India’s Test squad was back on the field, rigorously preparing for their upcoming two-match series against the West Indies. The first Test is scheduled to commence this Thursday in Ahmedabad.
In a strategic move to manage player workload following a packed schedule, three senior members of the squad were given a much-needed break. The rest of the team, under the guidance of captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir, dedicated nearly three hours to a demanding training session at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Player workload remains a significant concern given the quick turnaround from the Asia Cup final. The training started with light warm-up drills before the batsmen took to the nets.
Young openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul demonstrated excellent form, looking sharp and confident. Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel, fresh from captaining India A, also showed his class, as did middle-order contenders B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, who appeared fluent at the crease. Notably, star bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel were rested from the session.
Captain Shubman Gill, however, faced a particularly challenging session. He had several close calls, frequently edging deliveries from both pacers and throwdown specialists. One rising delivery even struck his gloves around chest height. Undeterred, Gill diligently rotated between nets, confronting pace, spin, and throwdowns as he fine-tuned his skills for his inaugural home Test as captain.
Pace duo Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, having recently returned from India A duties against Australia A, delivered impressive spells, each bowling sharply for nearly 45 minutes.
Coach Gautam Gambhir, who had previously inspected the pitch upon the team’s arrival, returned for another detailed assessment after the training concluded.
The primary selection conundrum for India appears to be the additional batting slot. Devdutt Padikkal’s recent stellar performance, including a score of 150 in the first unofficial Test against Australia A, has made him a strong contender. All-rounder Nitish Reddy, who also made an impact with his seam bowling alongside Siraj and Prasidh, presents another valuable option.
The rest of India’s playing XI seems largely settled. Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to form the backbone of the team. Additionally, Kuldeep Yadav’s exceptional recent form positions him as a potentially decisive weapon against a West Indies side that lacks extensive experience in Indian playing conditions.
Meanwhile, the West Indies team’s preparations were hampered by rain, forcing them to cut short their outdoor practice and relocate indoors for a brief half-hour session.