Mohammed Siraj goes all out, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul sweat it out: Who did what in India’s pre-IND vs AFG Test training?

Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill NEW DELHI: India’s preparations for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan gathered momentum on Thursday, with the team undergoing a tough training session despite scorching heat. The Test match begins on Saturday and will be followed by a three-match ODI series.One of the biggest positives for India was seeing Mohammed Siraj bowl at full intensity for nearly 25 minutes alongside Prasidh Krishna, according to a report by news agency PTI. With concerns about player workload after a long IPL season, Siraj’s energetic spell suggested that the senior fast bowler is fit and ready for the challenge ahead.

Pacers impress in nets

Apart from Siraj and Prasidh, tall pacer Gurnoor Brar also impressed during the session. The fast bowler produced a sharp bounce and troubled KL Rahul several times, pushing the edges outside the off stump. Despite these moments, Rahul looked solid and comfortable when at the crease.Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar also spent a lot of time bowling in the nets. He focused on maintaining accuracy and consistency, delivering more spells while sticking to a disciplined line and length.Meanwhile, all the specialist batsmen, including skipper Shubman Gill, got valuable practice against the backup bowlers as India fine-tuned their preparations ahead of the series.

The turning battle and Mayank’s return

A notable feature of the session was the focus on left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey. The team management seemed to want to assess his batting ability as he spent a considerable amount of time with the bat.Dubey and fellow left-hander Manav Suthar, who is also in contention for a place in the playing eleven, bowled in the neighboring nets under the watchful eye of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Their performances could play a key role in determining India’s Test spin mix.Fast bowler Mayank Yadav was also present with the team. However, the youngster, who has dealt with several injuries in recent years, has focused on fitness and conditioning exercises rather than longer bowling.