IND BAN 1st Test: KL Rahul and Co set for full training session in Chattogram

IND BAN 1st Test: KL Rahul and Co set for full training session in Chattogram, all eyes on Rishabh Pant, Jaydev Unadkat in crucial practice – Follow LIVE Updates

Sreehari Menon

Monday, Dec 12, 2022 2:42 am

IND BAN 1st Test: Team India will hold their first full practice session on Monday ahead of the test series against Bangladesh. All eyes will be on KL Rahul, who leads the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma. India held an optional training session on Sunday, but will expect the full squad to turnout […]

IND BAN 1st Test: Team India will hold their first full practice session on Monday ahead of the test series against Bangladesh. All eyes will be on KL Rahul, who leads the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma. India held an optional training session on Sunday, but will expect the full squad to turnout on Monday, with the likes of Rishabh Pant and Jaydev Unadkat also travelling to Bangladesh. Follow India vs Bangladesh LIVE updates on Insidesport.IN

Also Read: IND vs BAN Test series: Rohit Sharma to miss 1st Test, Mohammad Shami, Ravindra Jadeja RULED OUT, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar named replacements, Rahul to lead in Chattogram – Check details

IND BAN 1st Test: KL Rahul and Co set for full training session in Chattogram, all eyes on Rishabh Pant, Jaydev Unadkat in crucial practice – Follow LIVE Updates

KL Rahul and Co will undergo a full training session on Monday at Chattogram, the venue for the first Test. With India’s WTC Final hopes on the line, there will be no shortage of preparation from the visitors. Much of the focus will be on coming to grips with the change in format during the session.

KL Rahul leads the side and will have a new opening partner in Shubman Gill in Rohit Sharma’s absence. Abhimanyu Easwaran was drafted in as a replacement. However, Gill is set to get the nod ahead of the Bengal opener. Easwaran was part of India A tour earlier this month, along with Cheteshwar Pujara, KS Bharat, Navdeep Saini and Saurabh Kumar. The latter two were also drafted in as replacements.

Pujara and Bharat got some training under their belt in the optional session on Sunday. Ravichandran Ashwin also went through the motions in his comeback series after the T20 world Cup. Ashwin will lead India’s spin contingent with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Saurabh Kumar all presenting themselves as options.

IND BAN 1st Test: KL Rahul and Co set for full training session in Chattogram, all eyes on Rishabh Pant, Jaydev Unadkat in crucial practice – Follow LIVE Updates

However, it’ll be the pacers who will be the ones to watch out for in the training session. Mohammed Siraj is the de facto leader of the attack in Shami and Bumrah’s absence. Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur offer valuable support cast. Navdeep Saini returns to the Indian team after 2 years, while Unadkat is back after 10 years. It is unlikely that either play the 1st test, but a decision will only be made after the training session.

As far as fitness is concerned, Rishabh Pant returns after opting out of the ODI series earlier this month. The mercurial keeper will hope to get back into his groove in his favourite format. The left-hander has struggled for form over the last few months. However, his place in the test team is in no question, scoring 146 and 58 on his last Test.

India’s updated squad for Bangladesh Tests: KL Rahul (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat