On Thursday, some fortunate players from Afghanistan will take the field for their as well as the nation's first ever Test. Are they nervous, sure they are, are they excited, most certainly as was apparent during their first net session in the city last afternoon. It was a rain-curtailed session, but the excitement in the camp was palpable.

Can the same be said about the Indian team set to play what will be the country's 522 Test? Well, the fact that the Indian skipper Virat Kohli had chosen to skip it for a stint in English County cricket (before an injury put paid to those plans), shows that the team isn't exactly excited.