In preparation for the upcoming five-Test series against Australia, which commences on November 22 in Perth, Indian batters KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel will arrive in Australia a week before the rest of the Test squad. This decision is aimed at providing the players with essential match practice. They are set to participate in a four-day fixture with the India A team, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, starting November 7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The India A team faced a setback in the first match of their series, losing to Australia A by seven wickets. This match, held in Mackay, was notable not only for the defeat but also for a contentious ball-change incident that overshadowed the final day of play. In a separate disciplinary matter, Ishan Kishan avoided censure despite engaging in a heated exchange with the on-field umpire.
KL Rahul's exclusion from the Indian playing XI followed a disappointing performance in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, where he registered scores of 0 and 12. This poor outing led to his replacement by Shubman Gill in the subsequent Tests of the series. India ultimately experienced a rare 3-0 whitewash at home, marking the first time in 24 years they have lost all matches in a home Test series.
Dhruv Jurel, who made his Test debut against England earlier this year, has not participated in any of the five home Tests since Rishabh Pant's return to the squad. Since March's conclusion of the England series, Jurel has made only two red-ball appearances: one in the Duleep Trophy and another in the Irani Cup last month. His form has been inconsistent; he scored 2 and 0 in the Duleep Trophy, while making a more notable contribution with a brisk 93 off 121 balls in the Irani Cup.
The decision to send Rahul and Jurel to Australia early is particularly significant given that the Indian side has canceled their only planned intra-squad warm-up match, which was intended to sufficiently prepare the squad for the series. According to captain Rohit Sharma, the team is traveling with a squad of 19 players but faces only three days of preparation upon arrival. Sharma articulated concerns regarding the limited time available to optimize each player's workload in a conventional practice setting.
Sharma emphasized the management's preference for a match simulation over a practice game. In his view, this approach would better serve the players’ needs to spend significant time in the middle for the batters and allow the bowlers to deliver ample overs, making it a more conducive environment for preparation.
The Indian team is scheduled to depart for Australia on November 10 and will hold training sessions at the revered WACA cricket ground. This venue holds historical significance, as it was the site of their previous tour in the 2018-19 series, where India emerged victorious with a 2-1 series win against the hosts.
In the lead-up to the first Test, India will likely be without captain Rohit Sharma due to personal reasons. His absence has prompted the inclusion of Abhimanyu Easwaran into the squad. Easwaran's recent performance in the first A game yielded scores of 7 and 12, though he had previously demonstrated his batting prowess by scoring four consecutive centuries at the start of the Indian domestic season. Depending on the team's strategy, they may opt to restructure their batting order to accommodate this change.
As the Indian squad readies itself for the rigorous challenge ahead, the focus will undoubtedly be on adapting to Australian conditions, providing a platform for both established and emerging players like Rahul and Jurel to solidify their places in the team. The performance in the forthcoming series will go a long way in shaping the narrative of Indian cricket on the international stage.