“All the guys are raring to go. It’s good chance to get some runs on board and get wickets on board too and get back to the national side. Younger guys too will look have a good hit. Yes, it is a good side they are going to play but they are tough enough and have seen enough about playing at the highest level. So they are up and ready,” Badani said on the eve of the practice game.
“I would go back to personal experience. I was out of the side for a couple of years (in 2003) and got a 100 in a side game against New Zealand and that kind of paved my way back into the ODI side. They do realize come to these matches one good knock or a five-wicket haul gets them back into the reckoning. They have been working hard all through the year to be where they are now. Having said that it’s now on the individuals to take up the opportunity and grab it and take it forward,” he added.
Under Badani’s tutelage, Chepauk Super Gillies recently won the second edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), and the former Indian player was rewarded for his efforts and was given the job to coach the BCCI XI squad. This is not just an opportunity for the players but also Badani, as a favorable result against a strong team like Australia can also lead Badani establishing himself into one of the best coaches.
The one practice game will be played in Chennai on September 12. Australia will stay in Chennai until September 17, when the first ODI is to be played. Kolkata, Indore, Bengal, and Nagour will host the next four ODIs before the action turns to the shortest format of the game.
Meanwhile, there is a huge demand for tickets for the first ODI to be played in the state despite the prices touching the sky after implementation of GST.