Team India begins preparation for Bangladesh Tests in Chennai; Kohli, Bumrah, Morkel hog limelight

Team India has begun preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh starting September 19 in Chennai. Rohit Sharma-led Test squad assembled at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday (Sep 13), with head coach Gautam Gambhir overseeing the first training session ahead of the home season. Newly-appointed bowling coach Morne Morkel, alongside ace players Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, hogged all the limelight.

The BCCI shared some snaps of the team gelling ahead of the Bangladesh series on their social media handles, with lanky South African Morkel seen in Team India’s training gear for the first time. Abhishek Nayar, one of Gambhir’s backroom staff, was also present at the training session.

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Per the latest reports, the team had an indoor session, with the onlookers claiming that Virat batted for a good 45 minutes, while Bumrah didn’t leave a stone unturned in preparing for his first outing since winning the T20 World Cup in the Americas in June.

"Virat was there for 45 minutes, and Bumrah also bowled full throttle," a local source informed news agency PTI.

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Virat flew in from London and landed in Chennai in the wee hours on Friday. Captain Rohit Sharma, alongside other team members like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Bumrah, reached the city on Thursday.

Middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan will link up with the Indian Team after the second round of the ongoing Duleep Trophy.

Team India, Gambhir look for winning start

Right after the T20 WC, India won the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe and the three-match Sri Lanka T20Is that followed but lost the ODI series to them for the first time since 1997.

Against Bangladesh in the upcoming Test series, the hosts will aim to begin the home season on a high. Bangladesh, however, will enter this series on the back of a majestic yet maiden Test series win over Pakistan in Pakistan.

With Team India leading the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings with their PCT reading 62.50, they have higher chances of reaching their third straight final next year at Lord’s. On the other hand, Bangladesh, oozing with confidence, is fourth with a PCT of 45.83.

The second Test begins in Kanpur on September 27.

India will next host New Zealand for three Tests at home before flying Down Under to face Australia in the away leg of the Border-Gavaskar series.

(With inputs from agencies)