New Delhi: Realising the importance and toughness of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India have decided to cancel a scheduled three-day intra-squad match against India A and focus more on net practice for the marquee series. India tour Australia for five-Test matches with the first one beginning in Perth on November 22.
Team India are currently playing the third and final Test match against New Zealand and after the culmination of the series, the T20I squad will travel to South Africa to play four games in the shortest format before the Test side undergoes the most important test. India were scheduled to begin their tour of Australia with a closed-door warm-up game against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A at the WACA in Perth from November 15 to 17.
The three-day intra-squad game between #India’s Test team and India A, initially scheduled to take place behind closed doors from November 15-17 at the WACA as preparation for the #BorderGavaskarTrophy, has reportedly been cancelled.#IndianCricketTeam #SportsNews #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/JosNCVhM0K
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) November 1, 2024
Gautam Gambhir, senior player seek more net practice
According to a report published in news agency PTI, it has been learnt that Gautam Gambhir and some of the senior players in the side want more time in the nets so that they can be well-prepared for the crucial Test series which holds a lot of importance for them as a place in the World Test Championship final (WTC) is also at stake.
Earlier, in the lead-up to the 2018-19 series, the ‘Men in Blue’ played a four-day match against Cricket Australia XI. For the 2020-21 tour, they started the red-ball leg with a three-day game against Australia A. India A and the senior team played an intra-squad match in Johannesburg prior to the first Test against South Africa in Centurion on Boxing Day last year.
(With PTI inputs)
