And ahead of the 4th Test, some members of the Indian team went all out at a gym training session.
India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate highlights the team's challenges against finger spin and the predictability of their left-handed top order as they prepare for the T20 World Cup Super 8s.
'I have no doubt the players share the compassion and feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public.'
Sai knows there's competition but he has captain's backing: Ryan ten Doeschate
Now that the suspense is over, India batter Tilak Varma on Wednesday said the team is excited for the high-pressure game against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on February 15.
Arshdeep Singh suffers injury during practice ahead of Manchester Test.
Indian spinners will have a tough fourth day in office with the pitch getting slower, thereby making batting way easier, admitted assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate after the end of third day's play in the third Test against the West Indies in New Delhi on Sunday.
The head coach gets to pick the support staff, and Gambhir is no exception. However, the board has reportedly nixed his first choices for bowling and fielding coaches.
Harshit Rana returns to the Indian after regaining fitness even as Yashasvi Jaiswal will have to prove his ODI credibility as India look to sweep series against Afghanistan.
There is a slight desperation to win ODI series after below par Test outing: Ten Doeschate
Nayar comes with a high reputation as a sharp cricket mind and a lifestyle/motivational coach who have worked with the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Rinku Singh.
Washington is learning about batting: Doeschate, as all-rounder focusses on big-hitting at nets
Armed with a potent spin attack, taking on South Africa seems like competing against a "subcontinent team", Ten Doeschate said, admitting that they need to get better at negotiating the challenge posed by tweakers.
Gautam Gambhir will join the Indian squad on Tuesday, three days before the start of the first Test against England at Leeds.
'Nitish is our premium batting all-rounder at the moment. So I would say it's a very good chance to play this Test.'
Rinku Singh attempted the falling reverse lap scoop and reverse pull by using the pace off Ravi Bishnoi's googlies, similar to Rishabh Pant's audacious stroke-making.
Nitish Reddy released from India squad for India A one day series
'I guess the thinking going into the last Test, we wanted to strengthen the batting'
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said training with the two-coloured balls helps in eliminating white ball tendencies from the red ball game.
The Namibia match could be a God-sent opportunity for an out-of-form Sanju Samson to get into run-scoring mode after a string of failures that saw him lose his place to Ishan Kishan, who is going through a purple patch.
The final Test begins on Friday in New Delhi, and the Shubman Gill-led side is expected to maintain their winning combination as they look to wrap up the home series.
Such is the race for breaking news that if an Indian player sneezes, a report may immediately go out stating he may have caught the flu bug and could be a doubtful starter!
India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday returned to the country after mother Seema Gambhir had to be hospitalized due to health emergency.
It remains to be seen if the selectors pick Jasprit Bumrah for both Tests considering that there is only is a three day gap between the Asia Cup final and the first Test against the West Indies.
In a lapse of concentration, Atkinson picked the ball and sent the timber rattling to have Gill run out on 21(35).
'Look, when someone comes back into the Test side like he does after a lengthy absence, the pressure is always there, and I think he has handled that very well.'
Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill spoke on the team dinner hosted by head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday
A fine all-round show by Ryan ten Doeschate powered the Kiwi side to a convincing six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka's Kandurata Maroons.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir will rejoin the touring party on Tuesday after he returned to India due to 'personal reasons,' according to ESPNcricinfo.
India's young fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy should be persisted with and the cricket fraternity must not rush to pass judgement, former players Aakash Chopra, Robin Uthappa, and Manoj Tiwary said on Thursday.
With WI Tests starting next week, 25 overs in Asia Cup is good build-up for Bumrah: Doeschate
Doeschate emphasised that the cricketers should be kept in the right zone mentally.
Gambhir had taken charge of the team in July and the team will be playing its first Test in his tenure.
India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack in the first Test, starting in Kolkata on Friday.
He is the first Indian to achieve the feat of scoring a century in all three formats in international cricket at a single venue.
India stuck to their pre-series decision to field Bumrah in only three Tests and was hence not played in the final Test at the Oval
India's key spinner Varun Chakaravarthy fine-tunes his bowling skills in a dedicated training session ahead of the crucial T20 World Cup semifinal clash against England, focusing on length and control.
The second and final Test starts in Guwahati from Saturday with India trailing 0-1 after the defeat on a challenging Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata.
Shubman Gill backed young No. 3 Sai Sudharsan to come good, insisting that the team must look at 'potential, not just numbers'.
India's players lauded batting maestro Virat Kohli after his scintillating century guided India to a 17-run win over South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi on Sunday.
