The Indian team is gearing up for the highly anticipated 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, set to begin on November 22 in Perth. This five-Test series is pivotal for both teams, and India is heading into it with some concerns about their recent form. In a surprising decision, India opted to skip any warm-up games before the first Test, including canceling an intra-squad match against India A, which has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike.
India’s recent Test series loss at home to New Zealand, 2-0, marked their first home series loss in 24 years. This defeat has raised questions about the team’s readiness and form, particularly as they prepare to face a formidable Australian side on challenging pitches.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar shared his thoughts on this decision, expressing his belief that senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would have benefitted from some warm-up matches to adapt to Australian conditions. Manjrekar pointed out that while there’s been a trend in recent years of fewer warm-up games before major series, this particular tour might have warranted exceptions. He highlighted the struggles India A faced against Australia A, even on home soil, as a cautionary example.
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“The lack of a warm-up game might make a difference, especially this time because of the form and confidence the team is taking to Australia,” he noted in a discussion on ESPNcricinfo. Sanjay Manjrekar emphasized that India’s in-form batters were challenged by Australia A’s bowlers recently, suggesting that additional preparation could have been crucial.
‘With the kind of form Virat & Rohit are going with…’@sanjaymanjrekar on India’s lack of warm up games ahead of #AUSvIND #StraightTalk pic.twitter.com/W34xX2ek2p
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 12, 2024
Despite his concerns, Manjrekar acknowledged that the Indian team has sometimes performed well with minimal warm-up. He cited past tours in the 1990s where extensive preparation did not necessarily translate to victories, reminding fans that India was whitewashed 0-4 by Australia despite multiple warm-up games.
However, he cautioned that the current squad, brimming with younger, less experienced players, might have benefitted from time to adjust to Australian pitches.
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Manjrekar concluded by suggesting that veterans like Kohli and Rohit, who understand the challenges of Australian conditions, likely recognize the value of acclimatization through game time. With young talent and formidable opposition ahead, the Indian team faces a significant test in Australia, and time will tell if the decision to skip warm-up games will pay off or prove costly.
