Ravaged Indians at Fort Gabba

Brisbane, January 13

The injury-ravaged Indian team today underwent its first training session at the Gabba here, hoping to field 11 fit players in the series-deciding fourth Test against Australia.

Ruled out of the last Test with an abdominal strain, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah accompanied the visiting team for its training session.

However, India’s fast bowlers were rested from training. An India team spokesman confirmed that the squad’s fast bowlers did not train today.

With seasoned quicks Mohammed Shami (broken arm), Ishant Sharma (side strain) and Umesh Yadav (calf) out of the series, Bumrah’s absence would mean calling up either one-Test paceman Shardul Thakur or giving left-armer T. Natarajan an unlikely Test debut.

Two-test Mohammed Siraj, who bowled in Sydney with Bumrah and debutant Navdeep Saini, could end up the most experienced member of a very raw India pace attack at the Gabba, traditionally a fast bowler’s paradise for its speed and bounce.

Those who trained today included Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, skipper Ajinkya Rahane and others.

Bumrah, though, was not in his training outfit as he got involved in a discussion with bowling coach Bharat Arun.

Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav was seen bowling at the nets and there is a chance that he could be picked for the match, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ruled out due to a fractured thumb. — Agencies