KL Rahul left the field after being struck on the elbow, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of India’s first Test match. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli dismissed rumors about his own fitness but was one of several batters dismissed caught behind the wicket during an intra-squad match simulation at the WACA.
India’s preparations for the series opener at Optus Stadium intensified after three days of training at the WACA, with the main stars featuring in the XI against a team made up mostly of fringe and India A players. Rahul, likely to open in place of captain Rohit Sharma if he misses the first Test, partnered Yashasvi Jaiswal in overcast conditions. Rahul was in fluent form and handled the short balls well until he was struck on the right elbow by a rising delivery from quick Prasidh Krishna. Rahul was visibly in pain and left the field after receiving medical attention, not returning to bat later in the day as India’s top-order had another turn at the crease.
Jaiswal started aggressively, hitting a powerful shot through the covers, but was dismissed for 15, caught at second slip. Virat Kohli, despite undergoing scans recently, looked in good touch, driving a couple of delightful shots through the covers, but was dismissed for 15, edging a delivery from Mukesh Kumar to second slip. He spent some time in the nets afterward.
The Indian batters focused on short-pitched bowling, with local fast bowlers firing in quick deliveries, while some players took part in a drill using a tennis ball aimed at their heads. The WACA pitch, however, offered less bounce and carry than usual but had some movement off the length, posing challenges for India’s batters.
Rishabh Pant, who had struggled with short-pitched deliveries earlier in the week, hit a boundary through the off-side early in his innings but seemed shaken after taking a blow to the groin. He was eventually bowled out by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who later took the wicket of Dhruv Jurel in the slips.
Shubham Gill, batting at No. 3, struggled initially to find the strike during his two-hour stay but became more comfortable before being dismissed for 28, caught at gully off a short-length delivery from Navdeep Saini.
India’s batters faced spin from both ends shortly before the interval, with Washington Sundar and Tanush Kotian bowling in tandem. By the break, the team was 106 for 5 after 28 overs.
In the second part of the simulation, India’s main batters returned to the crease for more specific match scenarios. Jaiswal and Gill, initially cautious, shifted to an attacking approach, but eventually settled back into a more defensive style. Jaiswal, looking the most comfortable against the short ball, finished unbeaten on 58, while Gill ended on 42 not out.
After the final interval, Kohli and Pant returned to face sharp, short-pitched deliveries from Prasidh Krishna and Reddy. Kohli, though troubled at times, found his rhythm and played a few elegant backfoot strokes, including a pull shot that damaged his bat and required a replacement. Kohli, batting for an hour, finished on 30, showing no signs of discomfort. Pant, attempting to counter the short length with aggressive footwork, was bowled for 24 by Mukesh Kumar, marking his second wicket of the day.
Jurel and Akash Deep came in for the final stages, with the batting side finishing on 339 for 8 in a 75-over match simulation. The simulation is expected to continue over the weekend as India sharpens its preparations for the upcoming Test series.
As India continues to fine-tune its preparations for the highly anticipated Test series against Australia, the intra-squad simulation at the WACA has provided valuable insights into the team’s readiness. While injuries and fitness concerns have created some uncertainties, particularly with KL Rahul and Shubham Gill, the players have shown resilience and adaptability in challenging conditions.
The performance of key batters like Jaiswal and Kohli, along with the intensity of the fast bowlers and spin bowlers, suggests that India is gearing up for a tough contest. As the simulation extends into the weekend, the team will look to iron out any remaining issues and ensure they are fully prepared for the first Test at Optus Stadium.