The Indian team, having arrived in Australia, is set to play an intra-squad warm-up match at the WACA ground in Perth from Friday, November 15. However, this game will remain a private affair, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opted to restrict public access. This decision came shortly after India held its initial practice session at the WACA, officially starting their preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, scheduled to begin on November 22.
According to a report by The West Australian, India’s warm-up match will span three days, from Friday to Sunday, and will be conducted entirely behind closed doors. This approach reflects BCCI’s desire for privacy and strategic focus ahead of the series. To reinforce this secrecy, India’s first practice session was set up under black coverings to block any outside view, ensuring their training tactics remained hidden.
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Additionally, WACA staff members were reportedly instructed to avoid using their phones in visible areas outside their offices and to refrain from recording anything inside the grounds, underscoring the level of confidentiality around India’s preparations. Interestingly, Virat Kohli, one of India’s biggest names, was absent from this first training session, even though he was the earliest to arrive in Australia, having reached Perth ahead of his teammates on Sunday.
Team India is set to feature in an intra-squad warm-up game, starting Friday. But, fans won’t be able to see the players in action.#AUSvsINDhttps://t.co/YV6mvleUNu
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) November 13, 2024
The initial practice was optional, and Kohli, alongside key players Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin, chose to skip it. On the other hand, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant actively participated in the nets, with Rahul likely being the top choice to open the innings in the absence of captain Rohit Sharma. Rohit, who stayed back in India, is expected to miss the first Test as he and his wife Ritika Sajdeh await the birth of their second child.
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The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy holds special significance as India has successfully defended it since 2017. With Pat Cummins at the helm, Australia will be eager to reclaim this esteemed trophy on their home turf. For India, the series represents an opportunity to reinforce their dominance, while for Australia, it’s a chance to wrestle the title back and showcase their strength under Cummins’ leadership.
