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PHOTOS: Team India practice in full flow ahead of Eden Test

November 13, 2017 21:42 IST

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli during a training session at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Monday

IMAGE: Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli during a training session at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Monday. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI

The Indian team management is likely to field three frontline pacers in the first Test against Sri Lanka, keeping in mind the upcoming South Africa tour.

It has been learnt that the Indian team management wants tracks that are hard and bouncy without any major grass covering for all three home Tests -- something they will be getting in South Africa.

Keeping that in mind, the grass cover was removed by the EdenGardens groundsmen on Monday.

Indian pacers B Kumar and Umesh Yadav get into the groove during a training session at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Monday

IMAGE: Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar (left) and Umesh Yadav get into the groove during a training session at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Monday. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI

As India will have to go in with three specialist speedsters in South Africa, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav will be complemented by either Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Ishant Sharma.

Ishant led Delhi in three Ranji Trophy games this season, and more importantly, bowled really well in all the matches.

His back-of-the-length bowling on hard tracks can be useful. Similarly, Bhuvneshwar can be very useful considering the swing on offer during the early morning and post-tea session at the EdenGardens.

Indian chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav rolls his arm over as Ravichandran Ashwin looks on during a training session at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Monday

IMAGE: Indian chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav rolls his arm over as Ravichandran Ashwin looks on during a training session at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Monday. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI

The two specialist spinners are likely to be Ravichandran Ashwin and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav.

Ashwin was seen practising a lot of wrong 'uns while using the grip of a leg-break bowler.

On the other hand, skipper Virat Kohli was seen facing reverse swing throw-downs against a customised red and yellow ball.

These balls are specially designed so that batsmen can practice against reverse swing.

One part of the seam is yellow in colour and the other is red. Normally, the throw-down expert tries to reverse it at fast pace, from as far as 16 or 18 yards.