Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled at full tilt for nearly 25 minutes despite oppressive heat on Thursday as India's preparations for the one-off Test against Afghanistan intensified. The Test match begins on Saturday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, followed by a three-match ODI series.
Bowlers' Workload Under Scrutiny
With questions raised over the workload of bowlers after a two-month-long IPL season, Siraj's intense spell in searing conditions indicated that the senior pacer carried no obvious fitness concerns. Had he not been physically ready, sustaining such effort under the scorching sun, a hallmark of punishing summers in this region, would have been difficult.
Gurnoor Brar Catches the Eye
The imposing 6-foot-5-inch right-arm fast bowler Gurnoor Brar also drew attention during the session, extracting sharp bounce from a good length. On at least two occasions, he induced outside edges from KL Rahul, who otherwise looked technically compact during his net stint.
Auqib Nabi Dar and Harsh Dubey Impress
Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar bowled in multiple phases, appearing steady and operating well within himself while maintaining his line and length. A notable aspect of the session was the considerable batting time given to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, suggesting the team management is keen to assess his all-round capabilities. Dubey and his rival for the left-arm orthodox spinner's slot, Manav Suthar, bowled in adjacent nets with head coach Gautam Gambhir closely observing their efforts.
Batters Spend Quality Time in Nets
All specialist batters, including skipper Shubman Gill, spent quality time in the nets against reserve bowlers, including Prince Yadav. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who has endured multiple injury setbacks in recent years, was also present with the squad. However, the Lucknow Super Giants speedster largely focused on fitness drills and conditioning work rather than an extended bowling stint.
