The Indian team's net session in Ahmedabad on Tuesday saw all its leading players, except captain Anil Kumble [Images], missing.

Many of those who played in the drawn first Test against South Africa in Chennai did not arrive in the city and were thus unable to make it for the optional practice session that lasted nearly two hours.

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Pacer Ishant Sharma went through his paces in the nets in a bid to prove his fitness ahead of the second Test, starting Thursday.

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Others who took part in the session included Irfan Pathan [Images], Yuvraj Singh [Images], Piyush Chawla and the injured Murali Kartik [Images].

Mohammad Kaif, who has been named in place of the injured Sachin Tendulkar [Images] for the match, also reported for practice, held under the supervision of coach Gary Kirsten. Mental and physical conditioning coach Paddy Upton and physio Paul Close were also present as the team trained in temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius.

The South Africans had their practice session in the morning with all their players present.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said the temperatures in Ahmedabad, though extreme, were slightly better than what was experienced during the first Test in Chennai, where humidity took its toll on a lot of players.

"It is a lot like Johannesburg," Arthur said of the weather.