India’s preparations for the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy began with an intense intra-squad match simulation at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) in Perth. The session, conducted under overcast skies, provided a mix of encouraging performances and injury concerns as the team fine-tunes its strategies ahead of the first Test against Australia next week.
Opening Woes Amid Rohit’s Absence
With uncertainty surrounding skipper Rohit Sharma’s availability for the series opener, KL Rahul partnered Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order. Rahul looked composed and dealt with short-pitched deliveries effectively before a Prasidh Krishna bouncer struck his elbow, forcing him to retire hurt. The injury required medical attention, and Rahul did not return to bat.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal showcased his aggressive intent with a crisp drive but faltered as he edged to the second slip, a recurring issue during the session. However, his later innings of 52 not out, where he tackled short deliveries confidently and dominated spinners, was a positive sign for India.
Kohli Shows Promise, Pant Battles Injury
Despite earlier reports of undergoing scans, Virat Kohli batted with characteristic flair, including a signature cover drive. However, his innings ended on 15 when he edged a delivery from Mukesh Kumar to the slip cordon. Kohli returned later to bat for an hour, reaching 30 without signs of discomfort, providing reassurance about his fitness.
Rishabh Pant, however, appeared less fortunate. Though he initially showed promise, Pant visibly struggled after sustaining a groin injury. The wicketkeeper-batter adopted an aggressive approach but was bowled twice during the session, first by Nitish Kumar Reddy and later by Mukesh Kumar.
Mixed Performances from the Batting Unit
Shubman Gill played cautiously, scoring 28 before falling to a short ball at gully. In subsequent innings, he anchored the side with an unbeaten 42, exhibiting patience and technique. India’s middle order had limited success, with Washington Sundar and Tanush Kotian contributing runs as the team managed 106/5 after 28 overs in the initial phase.
Later, Jaiswal and Gill shone with composed batting, while coaches kept a close watch from the boundary, offering strategic advice.
Bowlers Make an Impact
Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as the standout performer with the ball, troubling the batters with his consistent line and length. Prasidh Krishna also bowled a fiery spell, targeting batters with short-pitched deliveries, while Sundar and Kotian provided valuable overs in tandem.
Final Score and Observations
The match simulation concluded with the batting side scoring 339/8 in 75 overs. Kohli and Pant faced a barrage of short deliveries during the final interval, with Kohli showing resilience despite a few testing moments. Pant, on the other hand, struggled for rhythm before being dismissed for a second time.
Road Ahead
India’s intra-squad session has offered a mix of optimism and challenges ahead of the opening Test. While players like Jaiswal and Gill have shown promise, concerns over injuries to key players like Rahul and Pant will weigh on the team management. With the series set to begin in just a few days, the Indian side will hope for a swift resolution to these issues as they prepare for the grueling challenge against Australia.
