Overview
- The opening Test begins Friday in Kolkata, with India holding an extensive training session at Eden Gardens under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
- Captain Shubman Gill spent roughly 90 minutes batting, facing spin from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar before a pace stint against Jasprit Bumrah and further throwdowns overseen by Morne Morkel.
- After practice, Gambhir, Sitanshu Kotak, Morkel and Gill inspected the centre wicket, checked its firmness and consulted curator Sujan Mukherjee about the surface.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan logged long hits as the No. 3 role remains under discussion, with Dhruv Jurel’s recent red-ball form noted and reports indicating Rishabh Pant is back in contention to keep wicket.
- Jasprit Bumrah kept his workload light with brief spot bowling and knee strapping, as India tailor plans for a balanced South Africa attack buoyed by a 1-1 draw in Pakistan.