Ahead of the highly anticipated World Test Championship final against Australia, the Indian cricket team will engage in an intra-squad match as a warm-up exercise. This decision comes as several Indian players are unavailable to participate in a practice match due to their involvement in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, aims to reclaim their dominance in red-ball cricket after falling short against New Zealand in the previous edition of the championship.
Due to the players’ commitments in the IPL, it has been challenging to organize a practice match against another team before the summit clash. As a result, the Indian side will rely on an intra-squad match to fine-tune their skills and build team chemistry. This approach was also adopted by the team in 2021 when they played an intra-squad practice match at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton ahead of the WTC final against New Zealand, considering the constraints imposed by the pandemic.
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The team management is considering this option as the Indian squad is traveling to England with a sizable contingent, including three reserve players and net bowlers in addition to the primary 15-man squad. However, the full-strength squad will only be available after June 1, as players are leaving for England in batches.
Among the first batch of players departing for England are all-rounders Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur, whose respective IPL teams did not make it to the playoffs.
While some players are already in England, others, such as veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara, are honing their skills by playing county cricket. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, will be leading the Mumbai Indians in a crucial IPL match against the Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator stage.
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The intra-squad match will provide the Indian team with an opportunity to simulate match conditions, test their strategies, and ensure that the players are well-prepared for the challenge posed by Australia in the World Test Championship final. The team will aim to make the most of this practice session to fine-tune their game and build confidence before the crucial showdown.
