Indian cricket players celebrating after a competitive fielding drill during a practice session in Chennai. Virat Kohli’s team celebrates after winning the competitive fielding drill during India’s practice session in Chennai.

T. Dilip, India’s fielding coach, introduced a competitive fielding drill during the team’s practice session in Chennai, ahead of the Test series opener against Bangladesh. The aim was to involve the entire team and focus on building intensity, especially in Chennai’s humid conditions.

Dilip explained, “Today’s session was about team involvement. We had two segments: a competitive drill where players were split into two groups. The team with the least number of errors won, and today, it was Virat’s team.”

India is set to kick off its home season against Bangladesh at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium from September 19-23. The second Test will take place at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1.

Dilip described how players practiced outfield and close-in catching. “We split into two batches—bowlers and all-rounders focused on outfield and infield catching, while batters worked on slip cordon and short-leg catching,” he said.

Despite the challenging weather, the team’s intensity remained high. “Overall, it was a fantastic session. Regardless of the conditions, the intensity was top-notch,” Dilip added.

These matches are part of the ongoing 2023-2025 World Test Championship. India currently leads the table with 68.52 percentage points, while Bangladesh stands fourth with 45.83 points.

This series against Bangladesh marks the beginning of India’s 10-match Test season, including hosting New Zealand for a three-match series in October-November. Afterward, India will head to Australia for the crucial five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, aiming for a spot in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s.