IN PICS: MS Dhoni-led Team India arrive at picturesque Dharamsala for first T20

Dharamshala: The Indian cricket team, led by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, arrived here this evening on Monday, four days before the tour-opener of the Mahatma Gandhi-Mandela series against South Africa.

The team will undergo a rigorous physical fitness training to prepare for the first Twenty20 International, scheduled for October 2. It was Team Director Ravi Shastri's idea to arrive here early so that the players can work on endurance enhancement at a high altitude venue.

The two-day training will involve obstacle courses, high-altitude trekking and barrier courses which has been planned by the team management as a grilling season awaits the hosts.

South Africa are well aware of the new-found aggression of Test skipper Virat Kohli and the rest of the Indian team but have promised power play action against the Men in Blue.

Mohit Sood, Press Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), said the players and the coaching staff actually had planned to reach Dharamshala only on September 30.

Before reaching Dharamsala, the Indian team had a skill conditioning camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

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Players were also seen signing autographs for fans while some decided to play a game of table tennis.

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South Africa will play three T20 internationals, five ODIs and four Test matches during their two-month tour of the sub-continent.

(All photos: PTI)