India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at MCG on October 23.
While the showpiece tournament will get underway on October 16 with the qualifying round matches, the Men in Blue will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at MCG on October 23.
For now, Rohit Sharma and his men are focusing on intense preparation having set their base in Perth. On Monday (October 10), they played a warm-up game against Western Australia and emerged victorious by 13 runs.
After the warm-up fixture, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin opined that the bigger boundaries in Australia will give the bowlers liberty to attack unlike smaller Indian grounds.
"We can get caught up with what happens in T20s and bilaterals back home. Only fair to say that bowlers are getting hit around the park but we also need to understand that boundaries are very close to the 30 yard circle in India.
"When you come to Australia, the boundaries are far bigger, gives license to the bowlers to work with. It is also very important to know the lengths you have to bowl so you got to be brave enough to take 50-50 options in these places," Ashwin said, as quoted by PTI.
India will play one more practice match in Perth before moving to Brisbane for official World Cup warm-up games against Australia and New Zealand on October 17 and October 19, respectively.
According to Ashwin, coming to Australia early was a no-brainer.
"Two weeks to go for the T20 World Cup and it is a marquee event and we are taking it as seriously we can. We are here to acclimatise because we have never been in Australia during this time.
"So it was important that we got here early and got used to the pace and bounce. There are a few guys who are new to the team so it will be a great time for them to acclimatise."
Commenting on the warm-up game, the off-spinner said: "Pretty much a game of good cricket and no matter how many times you come to Australia and England, it is very important you put in those miles early on.”
"By the time the first game comes, you need to be up and running and sure about what the conditions are going to be.
"Even watching games like yesterday, it is very important to understand how the game is being played in this part of the world," he added, referring to the England versus Australia T20I at the Optus Stadium.
(With PTI inputs)