India’s Test Season Prep Begins: Kohli Returns, Pant Ready For Red-Ball Action, Rohit Leads From The Front

India kicked off their preparations for a long Test season on Friday, welcoming both new and familiar faces. Virat Kohli returned to the red-ball grind for the first time in nearly nine months, while Rishabh Pant looked poised to resume his Test career after a two-year hiatus.

Overseeing the preparations was head coach Gautam Gambhir, as India gears up for key series against Bangladesh (two Tests in September), New Zealand (three Tests in October), and Australia (five Tests from November to January).

The Indian Test squad arrived in Chennai on Thursday and began training at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in batches.

Captain Rohit Sharma set the tone, addressing the team in a huddle before hitting the nets. Kohli joined him as both faced a variety of bowlers on specially prepared pitches.

The training focused on simulating conditions for the upcoming home and away tours, with pitches designed to challenge the batsmen.

One pitch featured a black-soil base, covered with footmarks, while the other had a red-soil base, selectively watered to simulate variable conditions. India has used such methods in previous home Tests to prepare for significant overseas challenges.

Joining Rohit and Kohli were top-order teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, both entering the season with confidence after standout performances against England.

The focus in the nets was on left-arm spin, with Tamil Nadu spinners Ajith Ram and M Siddharth tasked with preparing the batters for the threat posed by Shakib Al Hasan in the upcoming Bangladesh series.

Varun Chakravarthy and Himanshu Singh, an off-spinner from Mumbai with a bowling action resembling R Ashwin, also participated.

The bowlers took over later, with Jasprit Bumrah showing off his powerful batting skills despite it being his secondary role. Having last played for India in the T20 World Cup final in June, Bumrah also engaged in light fitness work and discussions with bowling coach Morne Morkel.

Rookie fast bowler Yash Dayal had a busy session under the watchful eyes of Gambhir and Morkel, showcasing his left-arm angle and potent short-ball delivery. His performance is being closely monitored ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year.

A highlight of the session was Rishabh Pant’s casual pick-up shot off his hips against Dayal after being initially beaten. Pant, who survived a life-threatening car crash in December 2022, was one of India’s leading Test batters before the accident.

Having already made his return in the limited-overs format, Pant’s red-ball comeback in the first Test against Bangladesh on September 19 will be a significant moment.

The upcoming Test season is crucial for India, as they play five home Tests leading into the World Test Championship final in June 2025.

Currently No. 1 in the points table, India will aim for at least five wins from the 10 remaining matches to secure a spot in their third successive WTC final.

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