India news Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill Unable to Practice Ahead of Adelaide Day-Night Test
The weather has dealt a severe blow to India's preparation for the second Test against Australia as the first day of the Prime Minister's XI tour match was washed out. Rain at Manuka Oval in Canberra has left the visitors with little match practice, which was crucial for key players like captain Rohit Sharma and opener Shubman Gill ahead of the day-night Test in Adelaide.
Impact on the Preparation for the Adelaide Test of India
The match was scheduled as a pink-ball fixture, which allowed Rohit Sharma, who missed India's comprehensive 295-run victory in the first Test due to the birth of his child, and Shubman Gill, who has been recovering from a broken thumb, to get valuable match practice. Both players were hoping to use this match as a warm-up before the second Test in Adelaide, but the rain has severely affected their preparations.
However, with the game rained out, the two will now have to rely on the limited practice they get while the match will be advanced to a 50-overs format on Sunday, weather permitting.
Changes to the Lineup for the Australia-India Test Series
Also, likely to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood in the second Test is Scott Boland. Part of the Prime Minister's XI squad, he was hoping for a much-needed run-up till the big match. 35-year-old Boland hasn't played a Test since the third game of the 2023 Ashes in England. He admitted that he feared his Test career was over after missing out on selection last summer, but hard work in the off-season means he is ready should an opportunity arise.
Besides Boland, the additions include Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett as bowling backups, while Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster might debut. Mitch Marsh's fitness is still a concern, so there is a little doubt over the makeup of the final team selection.
Indian Selection Decisions Loom as Tour Continues
For India, this delayed rain has denied the Selectors close look at some of the bubble players. They handed India debuts for all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and fast bowler Harshit Rana during the first Test, and there's a good scrap for places in the side.
Off-spinner Washington Sundar, who was the sole representative of his ilk during the first Test, faces competition from the seasoned operators in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, both with upwards of 850 scalps between them. Additionally, seamer Akash Deep may also jostle for a spot in the eleven.
The rain-affected match in Canberra may be a last-chance saloon for batters Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal, with the returning Rohit and Gill expected to come in for them. It is likely that opener KL Rahul will retain his place following his 103-run first Test performance.
Final Thoughts on India's Day-Night Test Preparation
A washed-out day of cricket now leaves both sides to struggle and make full use of whatever is left before the start of the second Test. With weather conditions pretty uncertain, all eyes will be upon Sunday's rescheduled 50-over match as India and Australia try to get in all the needed practice ahead of the high-stakes day-night Test in Adelaide.
Stay tuned for more on India's preparation, Australia's test squad, and the latest cricket news!
India Touring Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar
Prime Minister's XI Squad: Jack Edwards (c), Charlie Anderson, Mahli Beardman, Scott Boland, Jack Clayton, Aidan O'Connor, Ollie Davies, Jayden Goodwin, Sam Harper, Hanno Jacobs, Sam Konstas, Lloyd Pope, Matthew Renshaw, Jem Ryan
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