India, Nov. 20 -- KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington Sundar lined up first in the nets here on Thursday, indicating that India may not want to tinker with the No. 3 position. B Sai Sudharsan was knocking at the adjacent nets as was Dhruv Jurel, later joined by Rishabh Pant. Nitish Kumar Reddy painted his run-up mark and started gingerly with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as Axar Patel slowly slipped into the frame holding a water bottle. These were telling pictures.

On the evidence of how India went about their batting and bowling drills, expect one bowler to be dropped for the second Test beginning on Saturday. Kuldeep Yadav has been the best spinner, so chances are Patel might have to sit out should India opt for a seam bowl...