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India's cricket team is gearing up for the first Test match against Bangladesh, marking their return to the longest format after a six-month hiatus. The match, scheduled to commence on September 19th, will be the first assignment for Morne Morkel in his new role as India's bowling coach. In preparation, Team India adopted a unique approach during their practice session, focusing on pitch-specific training.
Under the watchful eyes of head coach Gautam Gambhir and Morkel, Indian batsmen, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, practiced on two distinct nets. The black soil pitch was dedicated to spinners, while the pacers utilized the red soil pitch. This strategic training reflects the team's awareness of the spin-friendly nature of the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, where the first Test will be held.
India's bowling lineup boasts a formidable spin attack consisting of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. The pace department includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Yash Dayal. To further refine their skills, India has enlisted a selection of net bowlers, including spinners like S Ajith Ram, M Siddharth, and P Vignesh, and pacers like Arpit Guleria, Gurnoon Brar, Yudhvir Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Simarjeet Singh, and Gurjapneet Singh. These practice sessions serve as an invaluable opportunity for the bowlers to hone their skills against diverse deliveries.
The upcoming Test series against Bangladesh is crucial for India as it carries vital World Test Championship (WTC) points. India is currently leading the WTC table with 68.52 percentage points, closely followed by Australia with 62.50 percentage points. This two-match series is part of India's grueling 10-match Test season, which includes a three-Test series at home against New Zealand and the five-match Border-Gavaskar series in Australia later this year.
Bangladesh, having recently secured a 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan, enters the series on a high. Their remarkable fightback in the second Test, fueled by Litton Das's century, propelled them to fourth place in the WTC standings with 45.83 percentage points. This series promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams compete for valuable WTC points and bragging rights.
Source: India's 'Pitch Strategy' For 1st Test Against Bangladesh Revealed