Chennai heats up as Rohit Sharma and his team pushing training efforts

In preparation for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, Rohit Sharma and his squad had another intense training session at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium. The entire 16-member squad was present on Monday as the Indian cricket team entered its third practice session, ramping up their preparations after a day of rest. The first Test match is set to begin on Thursday, and the players are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of victory.

Kohli and Jaiswal lead batting nets

As is often the case, Virat Kohli was among the first to hit the nets. He was soon joined by southpaw Yashasvi Jaiswal, with both batsmen facing deliveries from ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and local favorite, R Ashwin. The two batsmen looked solid, with Kohli in fine form as he timed the ball with precision. Meanwhile, Jaiswal was put to the test by Ashwin’s turn and Bumrah’s pace, as the duo focused on sharpening their skills for the spin-friendly conditions expected in Chennai.

Following Kohli and Jaiswal, skipper Rohit Sharma, along with Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan, took the crease. Rohit dedicated his session to honing his technique against spin bowling, keeping Bangladesh’s potent slow bowling attack in mind. Sarfaraz Khan, fresh from his participation in the Duleep Trophy, also got valuable time in the nets alongside his teammates.

Jadeja, Pant, and bowlers fine-tune skills

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj also participated in the session, facing local bowlers and undergoing rigorous throwdowns. The practice pitches at the Chepauk ground offered significant bounce, providing a great opportunity for the players to adjust to the conditions ahead of the Test series.

Pant is expected to make his long-awaited return to the Test side after nearly two years, with Dhruv Jurel likely to be benched despite an impressive debut series against England.

India has two more scheduled practice sessions before the series opener. The Chennai pitch is known to favor spinners, and it's expected that India will field three spinners—Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav—alongside two pacers, Bumrah and Siraj. All-rounder Axar Patel, despite his recent consistent performances, might have to sit out this time.

See Also: Watch: Kohli’s power shot breaks Chepauk wall ahead of Bangladesh Test

With Bangladesh riding high on confidence after a series sweep against Pakistan, India is leaving nothing to chance, ensuring that every player is match-ready for the important series ahead.