Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has voiced his concerns over India’s preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to begin on November 22. Expressing his dissatisfaction, Basit criticized India for practising behind closed doors and skipping warm-up matches, which he believes are crucial to adapting to Australian conditions.
India opted out of a traditional warm-up game, citing injury risks, and instead engaged in four days of match simulations. Despite these precautions, injuries have still disrupted the squad. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill both sustained injuries during practice, with the latter ruled out of the first Test in Perth due to a thumb fracture.
Highlighting these setbacks, Basit questioned the effectiveness of India’s approach, suggesting that their confidence might already be shaken following a recent 3-0 series loss to New Zealand.
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“The confidence level of the Indian team is very low. *Chup ke to practice kar rahe hai* (They are practicing secretly). Play as per your normal routine. You should play a match. They are not playing the match because they don’t want an injury. However, there was an injury even during the practice,” Basit Ali remarked on his YouTube channel.
He further criticized the decision to arrive in Australia early without adequate match practice. “The preparation that should have been done before the series is missing. It doesn’t matter if you reached Australia 12 days before or even 12 months before the series. This is not the way. You should play matches in Australia to be able to tackle their bowling,” he asserted.
While India has claimed the last two Test series in Australia, Basit cautioned that the hosts remain a formidable side in home conditions. He pointed out that India’s recent struggles, including the New Zealand debacle, could affect their morale.
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“Australia in Australia are a very dangerous side, especially for this Indian team. The confidence level of the players and the team management is very low,” Basit Ali concluded. With injuries and mounting pressure, India’s ability to adapt to Australian pitches could be the deciding factor in this high-stakes series.
