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Indian Test team in Chennai
TETE-A-TETE: Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan take time off after a practice session at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
CHENNAI: The Indian Test team assembled in the city on Sunday night for a day’s training ahead of the cricket tour of Sri Lanka, which gets underway later this month.
The 16-man squad, led by Anil Kumble, will practise at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday morning before flying out to Colombo on Tuesday. Monday’s session will include centre-wicket practice – curator K. Parthasarathy has readied two strips for this purpose.
Rahul Dravid, who arrived on Sunday morning, had a net in the afternoon at Chepauk. He batted against Zaheer Khan and a group of local bowlers. Dravid looked in good touch, and later appeared to demonstrate to Zaheer the grip and release of a delivery Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis bowls.
Dravid and Zaheer were part of the week-long skills and conditioning camp organised in Bangalore for cricketers not playing the Asia Cup. Parthiv Patel, who had practised with Zaheer here on Saturday, had a session with the big gloves. The left-hander also batted.
India opens its tour of Sri Lanka with a three-day warm-up match staring on July 18.
The first of three Tests begins on July 23. India will also play a five-match one-day series.
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