Virat Kohli, the stalwart batsman of the Indian cricket team, joined his teammates in a training session on Monday at the picturesque Arundel Castle Cricket Club. Also present was left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who seemed to have recovered from a left shoulder injury.
India is set to face Australia in the much-anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval, scheduled from June 7 to 11.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared pictures of the team members, including Kohli, as they commenced their preparations for WTC23 at Arundel Castle Cricket Club. The images showcased Kohli, pace duo Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj donning their new training kits, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin rolled his arm over at the nets. Unadkat was also seen engaged in discussions with head coach Rahul Dravid and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. Additionally, Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been playing for Sussex in the English county circuit to acclimate himself for the final, was spotted arriving at the training ground.
Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur were among the first batch of Indian players to arrive for the WTC final. Skipper Rohit Sharma and young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have also joined the squad. The remaining batch, comprising Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, K S Bharat, and Ajinkya Rahane, will be departing on Tuesday after the IPL final in Ahmedabad.
Jaiswal was included in the squad as a stand-by player after Ruturaj Gaikwad informed the BCCI about his wedding scheduled for June 3-4.
In the previous edition of the WTC, held two years ago in Southampton, India finished as runners-up after a defeat to New Zealand led by Kane Williamson. Determined to claim the championship title this time, the Indian team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations.
Unlike previous occasions, India will not be playing any warm-up matches ahead of the final. Due to the ongoing English County Championship and the ICC event status, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is not obliged to organize practice matches for the visiting team.
With the WTC final drawing closer, Team India’s training sessions at Arundel Castle Cricket Club are crucial for fine-tuning their skills and strategies. The players, led by Virat Kohli, are focused on giving their best in pursuit of the coveted World Test Championship trophy.
