India and Australia are all set to renew their Test rivalry in the fourth and final Test of the ongoing series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The series is currently locked at 2-1 in the favour of the hosts although it is them who will be under huge pressure going into the final Test.
The Rohit Sharma-led side have their task cut out as they will be looking to get back to winning ways. A defeat or draw would not only quash their hopes of winning a fourth straight Test series against Australia but could also hurt their chances of booking a spot in the final of the World Test Championship.

Australia have already booked their spot by winning the third Test. As far as India are concerned, any result apart from a win would leave their fate in Sri Lanka and New Zealand’s hands. With so much at stake, one can expect another fine match between the two giants of world cricket.
India vs Australia fourth Test begins on bizarre note:
Meanwhile, a bizarre turn of events have happened before the fourth Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The first day of the game will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
And before the game, every effort is being taken to ensure that the political event take the centre stage. Huge billboards of the Prime Ministers have been erected at the 130,000-capacity stadium and a huge crowd is expected at day one.
Australian and Indian players have been warming up for the fourth Test outside the venue at the nets, restricted from using the outfield due to a stadium visit from the Prime Ministers of the two nations #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/heXWm5tKkA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 9, 2023
But in a totally unexpected and bizarre turn of events, both the teams have been stopped from warming up on the ground ahead of the political event. As per reports, both the teams have been asked to warm up at the outside nets. Unsurprisingly, the development has prompted a stunned reaction from cricket fraternity.
Here are some of the reactions:
Teams not being able to warmup on the ground 🙃 #INDvAUS https://t.co/WxnmDxf55E
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) March 9, 2023
One the emptier outfields you will see an hour before a Test starts #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ot7V7rtsdD
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 9, 2023
Amazing. When was the last time teams couldn’t actually warm up on the ground before a Test? #INDvAUS https://t.co/Q6JAN32FlF
— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) March 9, 2023
I understand neither team will be able to warm up out on the field this morning and have been relegated to the outside nets to accommodate the political meeting between Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese #INDvAUS
— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) March 9, 2023
Cricket taking a back seat on the opening day of the Ahmedabad Test
Teams not permitted to warm up on the ground due to the orchestrated political rally that will act as a ‘curtain raiser’
😳 🏏 #INDvAUS
— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) March 9, 2023