IND vs BAN: India Prepares for Bangladesh Test Series with Focused Training in Chennai

India kicked off their preparations for the upcoming Test season with a training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Virat Kohli, who had flown in from London earlier in the day, had an intense 45-minute batting session, while Rishabh Pant looked eager to return to Test cricket after nearly two years. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and new bowling coach Morne Morkel oversaw the practice.

The team is gearing up for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which begins next week at the same venue. This series will be India’s first since their 4-1 victory over England at home in March.

The training involved two separate nets: one with black soil for facing spinners, and another with red soil for practicing against fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. India brought in several net bowlers, including left-arm spinners and off-spinners from Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, to prepare for Bangladesh’s spin-heavy attack.

A report suggests that Chennai’s pitch is likely to favor fast bowlers with its red-soil content, which could challenge Bangladesh, who are more accustomed to black-soil pitches. When Bangladesh last toured India in 2019, similar conditions were provided, and India’s fast bowlers dominated, taking 33 wickets, while spinners played a smaller role.