Kohli and boys undergo Test match simulation

They practised in simulated long-format match conditions complete with pacers using red and pink balls here on Tuesday. Top batsmen and bowlers, who are in all the three squads, took part in the practice session. Fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohammad Siraj were seen bowling to Kohli in a video posted on Twitter by the skipper.

“Love Test cricket sessions,” the tweet from Kohli read. The star batsman will feature in just the opening Day/Night Test before flying back to India for the birth of his first child. The video showed the players using the centre strip of the ground with proper Test match field and a batsman at the non-striker’s end, a deviation from traditional net sessions.

Given that most players were kept busy by the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the last two months, the white-ball training looks to have taken a back seat. Opener KL Rahul facing the pink ball was an indicator that he is in line to be picked for the first Test.

In another video, posted by the BCCI, Shami was seen bowling in tandem with Siraj.