India’s red-ball cricket preparations began promptly after the conclusion of IPL 2026, with Captain Shubman Gill leading the initial training session in New Chandigarh. The team geared up for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan starting on June 6, with players transitioning from their IPL commitments to Test cricket training.
The training session took place at the PCA Stadium complex in Mullanpur, where head coach Gautam Gambhir oversaw the intense net practice and engaged in extensive discussions with the players. Newly-appointed vice-captain KL Rahul focused on batting in the nets alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, emphasizing the shift from T20 to the longer format.
Gill, fresh from leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final, actively participated in the session under the guidance of fielding coach T. Dilip. The Test squad, led by Gill, saw the absence of senior players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, presenting a relatively fresh look.
India’s pace attack showed dedication during the training, particularly with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowling extended spells. However, Siraj’s Test availability remains uncertain due to workload concerns after his full participation in the Gujarat Titans’ IPL matches. A decision on his inclusion is pending.
In case Siraj is rested, the uncapped Auqib Nabi from Jammu & Kashmir emerges as a potential replacement, given his impressive performance in the domestic season with 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Nabi, part of the net bowlers assisting the Indian squad, includes other bowlers like Gurjapneet Singh, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari, and Shivang Kumar.
Another significant addition to the camp is fast bowler Mayank Yadav, serving as a net bowler to aid India’s batters in facing Afghanistan’s pace attack. Yadav, from Lucknow Super Giants, is also utilizing this opportunity to work on his return to competitive cricket following past injuries.
