Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled with intensity for nearly 25 minutes under sweltering conditions on Thursday as India stepped up preparations for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The Test is scheduled to begin on Saturday and will be followed by a three-match ODI series.
With concerns being raised about the workload of Indian players after the demanding two-month IPL season, Siraj's energetic spell in the oppressive heat served as a positive sign for the visitors. The experienced pacer showed no visible signs of discomfort and maintained a high level of intensity throughout his stint.
Given the harsh summer conditions, sustaining such effort would have been difficult had he not been in good physical condition. His spell suggested that fitness is unlikely to be an issue heading into the Test match.
Towering fast bowler Gurnoor Brar also made a strong impression during the training session. The 6-foot-5-inch pacer generated steep bounce from a good length and consistently troubled the batters.
KL Rahul, who otherwise appeared technically sound and composed at the crease, was beaten on multiple occasions by Brar's extra bounce. The pacer even managed to induce outside edges from Rahul at least twice during the net session.
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Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi Dar also spent considerable time bowling and looked disciplined in his approach. He operated comfortably within himself, maintaining a consistent line and length while delivering multiple spells during the practice session.
A notable feature of the day's training was the substantial batting time given to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey. The extended opportunity suggested that the team management is keen to evaluate his all-round abilities ahead of the Test.
Dubey and fellow left-arm orthodox spinner Manav Suthar, who is competing for a place in the playing XI, bowled in adjacent nets under the watchful eyes of head coach Gautam Gambhir. The former India opener closely monitored both spinners as they went through their routines.
Meanwhile, all the specialist batters, including captain Shubman Gill, spent valuable time in the nets facing reserve bowlers such as Prince Yadav. The session provided the batters with an opportunity to acclimatise to local conditions and fine-tune their preparations.
Fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, was also part of the squad's training activities. However, the Lucknow Super Giants pacer largely focused on fitness and conditioning exercises rather than engaging in a prolonged bowling session, indicating a cautious approach to his workload management.
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