Gambhir, Praveen miss Team India practice session at Mohali

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in bats during a practice session ahead of the third ODI © AFP

Mohali: Oct 19, 2011

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Just a win away from pocketing the five-match ODI series against England, a confident Indian team underwent a rigorous training session sans Gautam Gambhir and Praveen Kumar at the PCA stadium.

 

The Indian team, led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, trooped in at the stadium to use the nets first but in-form left-handed batsman Gambhir and pacer Praveen were conspicuous by their absence.

 

An official from the Indian team said that the practice session was not an official one and so both Gambhir and Praveen preferred not to take to part in it.

 

However, sources said that Gambhir had returned to Chandigarh this afternoon only from his home city New Delhi where he had gone for his marriage-related work.

 

Led by Dhoni, the home batsmen faced local bowlers and team-mates at the nets before going through fielding drills besides some stretching exercises.

 

The mood of the Indian players were certainly upbeat after back-to-back victories in the first two ODIs with Dhoni obliging a handful of autograph seekers.

 

After the Indian team’s net practice, England players arrived in groups separately at the stadium and went through a rigorous net session.

 

Meanwhile, the PCA stadium wore a fortified look with the presence of a large number of security personnel.

 

Mohali SSP G P S Bhullar has been attending to minute details of the security aspect of the stadium. (PTI)