Right ahead of India's first Test against Sri Lanka which is slated to start from March 4 in Mohali, a former Indian spinner Sairaj Bahutule has joined India's support staff. He was seen taking stock of Kuldeep Yadav's bowling during Team India’s training session on Tuesday (March 1).
Bahutule, who was part of the support staff of the recent World Cup-winning India Under-19 team, is currently serving as bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy.
Bahutule represented India in two Tests and eight ODIs in the early 2000s and has gone to Mohali with NCA trainer Anand Date and physio Patho. Also with them has been Apurva Desai, a former first-class cricketer from Gujarat. Desai (46) is a batting coach at the NCA.
“Sai has been in Mohali with the Test specialists who had gone there more than a week ago. He has been assisting them in their training while Rahul and others were with the white ball squad. They will be with the side for a couple of more days before going back to the NCA,” said the BCCI official.
Meanwhile, the first Test against Sri Lanka which will also mark Virat Kohli's 100th Test, have received a huge boost as Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has confirmed that there will be 50 per cent crowd attendance for the historic Test at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.
Earlier the historic Test was supposed to be played behind closed doors, as per Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) directive. The decision was taken due to Covid-19 norms. However, the decision has been reversed for Kohli’s milestone event.
Jay Shah's statement
“The first Test between India and Sri Lanka to be played at the Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali will not be held behind closed doors. The decision to allow spectators into the ground is one taken by the State Cricketing Associations and in the present circumstances, is based on various factors. I have spoken with the PCA office bearers and they have confirmed that cricket fans will be able to witness the historic moment of Virat Kohli playing his 100th Test match.”
India's Test Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, R Pant, KS Bharat, R Ashwin (subject to fitness), R Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, J Bumrah (vc), Md. Shami, Md. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar
Sri Lanka's Test Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva (vc), Kusal Mendis (subject to fitness), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrema, Lasith Embuldeniya.
