Technical Tweaks in Searing Heat: Inside Team India’s Nets in Mullanpur

Following the conclusion of IPL 2026, the white ball has made way for the red as India’s focus shifts to Test cricket ahead of a one-off match against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. On Wednesday, the Indian team held their first full training session, firmly focused on transitioning into the longer format, with a heavy emphasis on technical corrections.

The day began with a brisk warm-up monitored by strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux, followed by catching drills split across four groups. Once the fielding drills concluded, the core preparation immediately took centre stage.

Newly appointed spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule wasted no time, conducting a spot-bowling session on the centre practice wicket with Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar. Using a marker placed on a good length to help the spinners hone their accuracy, Bahutule worked extensively with Kuldeep, while Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal sharpened their slip-catching skills nearby. With Ravichandran Ashwin having retired and Ravindra Jadeja not part of the squad, it is clear the selection committee is actively grooming the next generation of tweakers.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir was a commanding presence throughout the day. Early in the session, he held a lengthy discussion with the pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Krishna before conferring with Gill and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.

Gambhir was incredibly hands-on. Firmly stationed behind the nets, he kept a close eye on the likes of Jaiswal, Rahul, Gill and Rishabh Pant. Without moving from his vantage point, the head coach constantly guided the batters, offering real-time technical corrections regarding bat flow and angles. Coming off a high-octane, two-month IPL season, the batters naturally require technical tweaks to realign with the demands of Test cricket – a transition that also requires discipline in line and length from the bowling attack.

With temperatures soaring to a punishing 40°C, the fast bowlers managed their workloads carefully. Siraj, Prasidh and Gurnoor bowled at full throttle but intelligently capped their spells at around half an hour. Net bowlers Auqib Nabi and Prince Yadav put in longer shifts, albeit with necessary hydration breaks. Across the ground, players were frequently spotted draping wet towels over themselves to combat the intense heat.

In the batting nets, Rahul, Jaiswal and Pant kicked off proceedings against Siraj and the rest of the pace attack, which was bolstered by several net bowlers provided by the Punjab Cricket Association. While the batting stints were kept brief, the priority was clear: tightening techniques against the new, moving ball.

When Gill, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan padded up next, the objective remained exactly the same under Gambhir’s unblinking supervision. Originally scheduled to wrap up at 12:30 pm, the rigorous session was extended by an hour to ensure every player received adequate time in the middle.

India will face Afghanistan in the one-off Test in Mullanpur starting on 6 June.

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