India vs England 2020-21, 1st Test: Hardik Pandya sweats it out at the nets (See pictures)

India is all set to take on England to defend the Anthony de Mello Trophy in a four-Test series, starting Friday. The series would see Hardik Pandya making his return to the longest format after more than a year. Meanwhile, he is training hard at the nets, ahead of the series.

<p>Ahead of the thrilling return of international cricket to India in more than a year, the Indian players are leaving no stones unturned to make sure that they take on England in the four-Test series, to defend the Anthony de Mello Trophy, with full fitness. The series would also see a few players playing Test cricket for the first time in India, with a few making their return.</p><p>Image courtesy: BCCI Twitter handle</p>

Ahead of the thrilling return of international cricket to India in more than a year, the Indian players are leaving no stones unturned to make sure that they take on England in the four-Test series, to defend the Anthony de Mello Trophy, with full fitness. The series would also see a few players playing Test cricket for the first time in India, with a few making their return.

Image courtesy: BCCI Twitter handle

<p>One of the players, making his return to the circuit, is prolific all-rounder, Hardik Pandya. Although Pandya has played limited-overs cricket of late, he has refrained from playing the longest format to give his back the ample time to rest and recover, since he underwent surgery in 2019.</p>

One of the players, making his return to the circuit, is prolific all-rounder, Hardik Pandya. Although Pandya has played limited-overs cricket of late, he has refrained from playing the longest format to give his back the ample time to rest and recover, since he underwent surgery in 2019.

<p>As he prepares for return to the format, he is sweating it out at the nets, at MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai. He has shared a series of pictures of his training ahead of the opening Test at the venue, from Friday.</p><p>Image courtesy: BCCI Twitter handle</p>

As he prepares for return to the format, he is sweating it out at the nets, at MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai. He has shared a series of pictures of his training ahead of the opening Test at the venue, from Friday.

Image courtesy: BCCI Twitter handle

<p>In this picture, he is seen practising his batting, as he is seemingly working on leaving the ball, an essential technique in the format.</p><p>Image courtesy: BCCI</p>

In this picture, he is seen practising his batting, as he is seemingly working on leaving the ball, an essential technique in the format.

Image courtesy: BCCI

<p>In this, he is seen having a chat with one of Team India's net bowlers, as the latter has been bowling at him in the nets.</p><p>Image courtesy: BCCI</p>

In this, he is seen having a chat with one of Team India's net bowlers, as the latter has been bowling at him in the nets.

Image courtesy: BCCI

<p>Here, he is jogging to keep his fitness level on the top. He captioned the post, "ack with #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 Back on home soil 🏟 Back in red-ball cricket 💪".</p><p>Image courtesy: BCCI</p>

Here, he is jogging to keep his fitness level on the top. He captioned the post, "ack with #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 Back on home soil 🏟 Back in red-ball cricket 💪".

Image courtesy: BCCI