As India gears up for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting November 22, the Indian team is taking a fresh and aggressive approach to preparation. Led by captain Rohit Sharma, the Indian squad is scheduled to leave for Australia at least two weeks before the first Test, ensuring enough time to adapt to Australian conditions. To fine-tune their game, the team will engage in multiple intra-squad practice matches against India A. This approach will allow the Indian team to test themselves under match-like conditions, helping them acclimatize to the pitches and weather before the real challenge begins.
India A’s Crucial Role in Preparations
The Indian A team, made up of some of the most promising young cricketers, will be touring Australia from October 25. Their main role will be to provide strong competition for the senior Indian team, replicating the conditions that Rohit Sharma and his men will face in the upcoming Test series. The A team is expected to play two Test matches on this tour.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has chosen this route after observing the declining quality of regular practice matches in foreign countries. By pitting India A against the main squad, the selectors hope to give the team valuable match practice, which is crucial for long tours like this one. Such intra-squad matches began during the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued to prove effective.
Test Team to Play Pink-Ball Practice Match
Ahead of the second Test in Adelaide, which will be a day-night affair, India will play a two-day pink-ball practice match on November 30 and December 1. The match will be against the Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, allowing the Indian players to get accustomed to the pink ball under lights—something that has often been a challenge in the past.
The Challenge of Managing Two Teams
This time, India faces the unique challenge of managing two national teams simultaneously. While the Test team, led by Rohit Sharma, is preparing for the high-stakes Test series in Australia, another Indian squad, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, will head to South Africa for a four-match T20 series from November 8 to 15.
The T20 team playing against South Africa will likely be the same as the one that faced Bangladesh earlier. This will require careful planning and coordination from the BCCI, as both teams will be competing in different countries during the same period.
Emerging Talent and the Future
India’s depth of talent has never been more evident. The selection committee will soon pick an India Under-25 team to represent the country at the Emerging Asia Cup in Muscat. This move highlights India’s growing emphasis on nurturing young talent and giving them international exposure. Meanwhile, the India A squad for the Australia tour will be selected after the first round of the Ranji Trophy, scheduled from October 11 to 14.
Test Schedule in Australia
The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy, always a fierce contest, is set to be played across five Australian cities:
- First Test: November 22-26, Perth
- Second Test: December 6-10, Adelaide (Day-Night Test)
- Third Test: December 14-18, Brisbane
- Fourth Test: December 26-30, Melbourne (Boxing Day Test)
- Fifth Test: January 3-7, Sydney
South Africa T20 Series Schedule
In contrast, India’s T20 squad, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, will face South Africa in a four-match series:
- First T20: November 8, Durban
- Second T20: November 10, Gqeberha
- Third T20: November 13, Centurion
- Fourth T20: November 15, Johannesburg
