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PHOTOS: Team India gets into the groove for England Tests

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 21:26 IST
Sachin Tendulkar, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virender Sehwag bat in the nets during Friday's practice session at the Brabourne stadium

The Indian squad, barring Harbhajan Singh, was put through its paces on Day 1 of the three-day camp, ahead of the Test series against England, starting November 15, at the Brabourne stadium, in Mumbai, on Friday.

The squad had a two-hour session, which was overseen by chief coach Duncan Fletcher, bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Evan Speechly.

PHOTOS: Team India gets into the groove for England Tests

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 21:26 IST
The players play football during the training session

The light training session started with a stint of football, as has been the custom in recent years, followed by proper net sessions of batting and bowling.

All the batsmen, who are expected to make up the first Test line-up at Ahmedabad on November 15, had a decent hit against the likes of Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, R Ashwin and local net bowlers.

PHOTOS: Team India gets into the groove for England Tests

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 21:26 IST
Zaheer Khan bowls at the nets

The focus was on Zaheer, who had a bout of cramps during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy opener against Railways last week.

The left-arm pacer bowled for 30 minutes to the likes of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni without going flat out.


PHOTOS: Team India gets into the groove for England Tests

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 21:26 IST
Virat Kohli bats

Virat Kohli, who is in the form of his life, will be looking to continue the good work.

He has gone from strength to strength since making his India debut against West Indies at Kingston in 2011 and become one of the world's finest batsmen.

He is expected to bat at No. 5.

PHOTOS: Team India gets into the groove for England Tests

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 21:26 IST
Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara will look to fill the big shoes of Rahul Dravid.

Coming back to the team after a long injury lay-off, he started off with a sparkling innings of 159 in the first Test against New Zealand, in Hyderabad, in August.

He had signaled his intentions of making the No. 3 position his own when he scored 72 on his debut against Australia, in Bangalore, in October 2010, after Dravid was demoted to No 5.

PHOTOS: Team India gets into the groove for England Tests

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 21:26 IST
Umesh Yadav relaxes after the practice session

Conspicuously absent was Harbhajan, included in the Test squad after being in the wilderness for more than a year.

He failed to make it because of a delayed flight, it was learnt.

The off-spinner has the chance to make up for lost time on the next two full days' training.

After the conclusion of the three-day preparatory camp, the team will depart on November 12 for Ahmedabad, for the Test series opener at the Motera stadium.

 

PHOTOS: Team India gets into the groove for England Tests

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 21:26 IST
Indian team players in a huddle before the start of the practice session

The same 15 has will be retained for the second match of the rubber at Wankhede stadium, beginning November 23.

The last two matches of the series will be played at Kolkata (December 5-9) and Nagpur (December 13-17).

The England squad is already in Ahmedabad playing their third and final warm-up tour game against Haryana.