Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 16 (ANI): In anticipation of the much-awaited first Test match against Bangladesh, the Indian cricket team, led by the charismatic Virat Kohli, showcased their prowess in a fielding competition during a rigorous practice session held at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

The two-match Test series is set to commence on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with the second fixture scheduled to begin on September 27 in Kanpur.

In a video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on their official social media platforms, India’s fielding coach T Dilip provided insights into the team’s meticulous preparations for the first Test against Bangladesh. According to Dilip, the players were divided into two groups for a series of mini-catching sessions, with Kohli’s team emerging victorious.

Coach Dilip elaborated on the day’s activities, explaining that the primary objective was to foster team unity through a competition drill. “Considering the humid conditions in Chennai, we focused on low-volume but high-intensity drills. We split into two groups for mini competitions in catching, and the team with fewer errors won. Today, it was Virat’s team that came out on top,” Dilip shared in the video.

The fielding coach also detailed the second session, where players honed their outfield and infield catching skills. “In the second drill, we divided into two batches: bowlers and all-rounders practiced outfield and infield catching, along with aggressive ground fielding. Meanwhile, the batters’ group worked on their slip cordon and short-leg fielding,” he added.

Reflecting on the overall practice session, Dilip praised the team’s effort and intensity. “Considering the hot conditions, the team’s performance was fantastic. The best part was maintaining high intensity throughout all sessions,” he further noted.

Currently, Team India leads the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a point percentage of 68.52. Their upcoming WTC fixtures include a home series against Bangladesh (two Tests), another home series against New Zealand (three Tests), and an away series against Australia (five Tests).

The Indian squad features prominent names such as Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yash Dayal.

The Bangladesh squad includes players like Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, and Jaker Ali Anik.