India vs Windies 1st Test: Teams sweat it out in training sessions ahead of first test

Ahead of the start of the two-Test series, India and Windies underwent practice sessions.

“The team held its first practice session at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, ahead of the start of the 1st Test on Thursday October 4th from 9:30am IST. #WindiesCricket #ItsOurGame,” Windies Cricket tweeted.

The team held its first practice session at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, ahead of the start of the 1st Test on Thursday October 4th from 9:30am IST.#WindiesCricket #ItsOurGame pic.twitter.com/hIxQOPunDs

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 2, 2018

Earlier, team Windies played a two-day practice match at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara against the Board President’s XI that ended in a draw. The middle-order batsman Sunil Ambris (114) racked a ton while Kraigg Brathwaite (54) and Shane Dowrich (65) scored a half-century each in the warm-up.

Read: Windies pacer to miss first Test

Indian Cricket Team at the nets

Indian Cricket Team also practised at the venue for the Test on Tuesday. Here’s a video of Prithvi Shaw having a knock in the nets.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bod0InNHZtF/?taken-by=indiancricketteam

Virat Kohli, back in the side after rest, was also seen striking the ball at team’s practice session in Rajkot.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bodr4lFHDjm/?taken-by=indiancricketteam

Prithvi Shaw to debut

Prithvi Shaw is likely to partner KL Rahul at the top of the Indian batting order at Rajkot. BCCI on Wednesday confirmed a 12-member squad for the first Test. In the 12-player squad, there is no space for Mayank Agarwal or Hanuma Vihari. If India opt for three seamers and two spinners, Shardul Thakur will also get the Test cap.

India vs Windies 1st Test Squads

India’s squad: Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur.

Windies’ squad: Jason Holder (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Sherman Lewis, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel and Jahmar Hamilton.

After the Test series, the two sides are slated to play five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).