India's Test tour of Australia is slated to get underway on November 22.
The Indian cricket team has hit the ground running at the WACA ground in Perth ahead of the first Test against Australia, starting November 22.
India were supposed to play an intra-squad game against India ‘A’ ahead of the series opener but they instead opted for a 'secret' practice session and match simulation.
As per media reports, the grill bordering the practice area was completely covered from public view and restrictions were implemented on the use of phone by the staff and other ground officials. However, video from the practice session has surfaced on social media.
There was no Virat Kohli in the first batting session as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant fine-turned their skills at the nets. The pair played quite a few big shots with Jaiswal smashing the ball onto the adjacent road.
KL Rahul also took part in the nets session where he faced deliveries from a number of fast bowlers.
The Optus Stadium pitch for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been prepared to deliver "good bounce and pace," in keeping with the history of the fiery tracks in Perth as per the pitch curator, and India will be given a hard welcome to Australia.
"This is Australia, this is Perth... I'm setting ourselves up for really good pace, really good bounce and really good carry," Western Australia Cricket head curator Isaac McDonald told 'ESPNCricinfo'.
This Test will only be the fifth match to be played at the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium and McDonald stated that he is trying to prepare a pitch that has similar traits to the one that he readied for the first Test against Pakistan in December last year.
In that match, Pakistan were bowled out for 89 in the second innings as the Aussies registered a massive 360-run victory.
(With PTI inputs)