Headline: KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel Head to Australia Early for Match Practice Ahead of Five-Test Series

In preparation for India’s upcoming five-Test series against Australia starting November 22 in Perth, Indian batsmen KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel will arrive in Australia a week before the rest of the Test squad. Their early departure aims to provide them with some much-needed game time, as both players are set to feature in the India A team’s second and final four-day match, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, beginning November 7 at the MCG.

India A recently lost their opening four-day game against Australia A in Mackay by seven wickets, a match that saw controversy on the final day due to a disputed ball change. Although India’s Ishan Kishan was involved in an argument with the umpire, he managed to avoid a dissent charge. The early arrival of Rahul and Jurel for the second game is seen as an essential move to help them sharpen their skills in the competitive setting of Australian pitches.

KL Rahul’s recent performances have placed him under scrutiny. After being dismissed for scores of 0 and 12 in India’s opening Test loss to New Zealand, he was replaced by Shubman Gill for the subsequent matches. With Gill’s return, Rahul was left out of the remaining games, which ended in India’s first home whitewash in 24 years. Now, Rahul is looking to regain form in Australia, hoping to secure a place in the Test squad’s starting lineup.

Dhruv Jurel, who debuted in Tests against England earlier in the year, has also had limited opportunities recently. He hasn’t played in any of the five Tests since Rishabh Pant’s return, and his red-ball experience since the England series has been minimal, featuring in only a Duleep Trophy game and an Irani Cup match. Despite scoring just 2 and 0 in the Duleep Trophy, Jurel showed some form with a quick 93 off 121 balls against Mumbai in his last outing.

The Indian team’s decision to send Rahul and Jurel early comes after canceling their planned intra-squad warm-up game. According to captain Rohit Sharma, only three days were available for team practice, so the management opted for a centre-wicket match simulation instead. This approach allows the batters to spend more time at the crease and the bowlers to bowl more overs, providing more targeted preparation than a practice game.

The full Indian Test squad will depart for Australia on November 10, with training scheduled at the WACA in Perth, a venue India last played at during their successful 2018-19 tour. Notably, captain Rohit Sharma is expected to miss the series opener due to personal reasons. His potential absence could open a spot for Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has been in strong form with four first-class centuries in the Indian domestic season, despite modest scores of 7 and 12 in the recent A game.

As Rahul and Jurel prepare to make the most of their early start in Australia, India aims to gain momentum leading into a highly anticipated series.