India Cancels Intra-Squad Match to Focus on Net Practice Before Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Originally, the intra-squad match was intended as a warm-up for the Indian side, which would have included players from the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A team currently participating in an unofficial Test series in Australia.
In a strategic move ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian cricket team has opted to cancel their scheduled three-day intra-squad match against the India A side, which was set to take place in Perth from November 15 to 17. Instead, the team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, has prioritized extended net practice sessions to better prepare for the five-match Test series starting November 22.
Originally, the intra-squad match was intended as a warm-up for the Indian side, which would have included players from the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A team currently participating in an unofficial Test series in Australia. However, after suffering a disappointing home series defeat to New Zealand, the focus has shifted towards maximizing time in the nets.
Rohit Sharma and his squad are under pressure as they aim for a third consecutive Test series victory on Australian soil, with the added incentive of securing a spot in the World Test Championship final. The decision to cancel the practice match is partly based on the playing conditions at the WACA, where the bounce of the center strip closely resembles that of the Perth Stadium pitch. Senior batsmen expressed a preference for more extensive batting practice rather than the uncertainty that comes with intra-squad games, where a poor performance could limit their opportunities to bat again.
This decision marks a departure from India’s previous tours to Australia, where the team typically engaged in practice matches before the series. For instance, during the 2018-19 series, India played a four-day match against the Cricket Australia XI, and in the 2020-21 tour, they began with a three-day game against Australia A. On their last tour to South Africa, the Indian team played an intra-squad match in Johannesburg, but their batting struggles in the Test that followed raised questions about the effectiveness of such preparations.
India's players are scheduled to depart for Australia soon after concluding the third Test against New Zealand, which takes place in Mumbai on November 5. As the team shifts its preparation strategy, all eyes will be on how this decision impacts their performance in the forthcoming series.
