Watch: Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill Ace Team India's Special Fielding Drill Ahead Of First Test

11.07.2023 - 03:25 sports.ndtv.com

Team India is all set to take on the West Indies in the first Test, starting July 12 in Dominica. It will be the first game for the side since the World Test Championship final against Australia that ended on June 11.

After the game, the Indian players got some good personal time and they will now be back playing at the highest level after a one-month break.

The Indian team has already reached Dominica and started the training at the venue. On Monday, BCCI uploaded a video on social media in which the Indian team players could be seen doing a special catching practice with Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill acing the drill. "That's one colourful fielding drill. #TeamIndia sharpen their reflexes ahead of the first Test against West Indies," BCCI captioned the post on Twitter.

That's one colourful fielding drill #TeamIndia sharpen their reflexes ahead of the first Test against West Indies #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/FUtRjyLViI The Indian players' training ahead of the first Test also gave the local cricketers of the West Indies a chance to be a part of the sessions.

cricket India Cricket Team West Indies Cricket Team 2023 West Indies vs India Test watch first test Virat Kohli Shubman Gill Australia India Barbados Dominica

The Indian cricket team were completely outplayed by West Indies as they slumped to a six-wicket loss in the second ODI match in Barbados. The visitors decided to rest both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after winning the first match of the series but their batters were unable perform on Saturday as India were all out for just 181. Former Pakistan opener Salman Butt believes that the current India team lacks players who can ideally replace Rohit or Virat at present and he had an interesting solution to the problem. Butt said that India can experiment with the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan with Rohit and Kohli coming at No.3 and No.4 respectively.

Watch: Rested Virat Kohli Turns 'Water Boy' For Team India vs West Indies. Internet In Awe

The Indian playing XI for the second ODI against West Indies in Barbados on Saturday had a different look as regular captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not part of it. Hardik Pandya stood in for Rohit, the skipper. "Few questions need to be answered for us, so Virat and Rohit are resting. They can be fresh for the third ODI. The way we bowled was impressive. The way we caught was great, it changed the momentum. I think when you get someone out for 115, it's a good effort from the bowlers. Our catching was impressive, but we can improve in certain areas. Instead of losing five wickets, we could have lost only two wickets and finished the last game. Sanju Samson and Axar Patel come in for Rohit and Virat," stand-in captain Hardik Pandya said at the toss.

India's Predicted XI vs West Indies, 1st ODI: Will Team India Choose Ishan Kishan Over Sanju Samson As Wicketkeeper?

After clinching the two-match Test series with 1-0 lead, Team India will be squaring off against West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series on Thursday in Bridgetown. The Rohit Sharma-led side will use the series against the West Indies to test out a few players to finalise their combinations ahead of the Asia Cup, which will precede the ODI World Cup at home in October-November. Suryakumar Yadav will be aiming to improve his 50-over credentials while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are likely to audition for the wicketkeeper's slot.

On Buzz Around Virat Kohli's Overseas Test Ton Drought, Rohit Sharma Mentions Irritating 'Outside' Noise

India captain Rohit Sharma has been outspoken about how the team's leadership and players ignore "outside noise" and when questioned about Virat Kohli's test performance, he responded in the same way. India will take on West Indies in the opening ODI of three-match series here at Kensington Oval on Thursday. After nearly five years of overseas Test century drought, Kohli scored a century in the second Test in Trinidad.

What Virat Kohli Brings To Indian Test Team, Skipper Rohit Sharma Sums Up

Despite having an upper hand in the game, Team India failed to clinch a victory in the second Test against West Indies as the final day of the match got washed out due to rain. Asked to bat first, the Rohit Sharma-led side posted a total of 438 and then bundled out the hosts for 255. Later in the second innings, the visitors declared at 181/2 on Day four to set the West Indies an imposing target of 365 runs to win the match. Fiery half-centuries from skipper Rohit Sharma and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan helped India to post a huge total.

What Virat Kohli Told Ishan Kishan Before Giving His No. 4 Spot On Day 4 Of 2nd Test

After smashing a half-century against West Indies in the second Test, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan said that Virat Kohli backed him to bat at number four and play his natural game, adding that Rishabh Pant also helped him out with his bat positioning at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). India set a massive total of 365 runs for West Indies to win the ongoing second Test, and Windies lost two wickets in the final session of day four in Port of Spain on Monday.