Team India Test cricketers — Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari have begun their preparation for the pink ball Test match (against Australia) in Dubai. The squad picked for the Australia tour will fly for Australia soon after the completion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
While speaking to ANI, a source well known of the developments in India’s team management stated that the players have been training in the ICC Academy. Still, they will start the preparation under lights from Friday.
“The team realises they need to prepare for such an intense series and we want to use as much of our time judiciously in Dubai. We will have sessions under lights from today and with the pink ball. Today’s session will be a three-hour session approximately,” the source said.
Even though throwdown specialist Raghu had to skip travelling to the UAE with the rest of the support staff as he is down with coronavirus, the team has another throwdown specialist in Sri Lankan Nuwan Seneviratne. His left-arm throwdowns are something that will help the Indians prepare for the Australian pace unit, which is led by Mitchell Starc.
“Pujara, Vihari, and the rest are currently working with Nuwan in Raghu’s absence. It is unfortunate but you cannot do anything about Raghu testing positive for coronavirus. Looking at the brighter side, Nuwan brings in the left-arm angle and that is a plus as Starc is an integral part of the Australian attack,” the source pointed.
Team India likely to travel from Dubai on November 11:
Team India will enter Australia via Sydney and will follow a 14-day quarantine while will also be allowed to train during that period. The tour will start with the three-match ODI series followed by three-match T20I series. The much-anticipated Test series will begin on December 17 with the day-night Test match in Adelaide.