The Indian team traveling to Australia for a full tour comprising of 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is, and 4 Test matches, could see itself being involved in two separate matches played simultaneously. The tour is set to commence in Sydney in November this year.
The clash is expected to occur when on one hand Virat Kohli-led Indian team is involved in a white-ball international against the home team while the Test regulars play a practice match against the reserves in a 30-35-member-strong squad.
Though the venue for the same is yet to be finalized, the Indian team received good news in form of the New South Wales government's approval for the Indians to train during their quarantine period in Sydney.
AUS v IND 2020-21: India visit approved by Australian govt; white-ball leg in Sydney, Canberra
Apart from this, the Indians will also get an additional practice game with the pink ball, which in all probability will happen in Adelaide as the precursor to the first Test starting on December 17. It's still not clear whether it'll involve the visitors playing amongst themselves or against a team put together by Cricket Australia.
According to sources, the Indian team will have to quarantine for 14 days but will still be allowed to train in groups not restricted to any certain number. The schedule is yet to be officially accepted by the BCCI.
As of now, the Indian team will land in Sydney with the limited-overs leg of the tour due to start on Nov 27 and will be played in Sydney and Canberra. The Test series is slated to start with a day-night Test in Adelaide on Dec 17 and will end in Brisbane (Jan 15-19).
Apart from this, TOI has learnt that selectors will be asked to pick the three teams (for 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is, and 4 Tests) together so that the squad could leave together in a bubble from Dubai. This could mean that a gigantic squad of around 30-35 players would be landing in Australia at a time.
It has also been reported that the Indian team’s Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, along with the support staff have been asked to stay ready to travel to Dubai, from where all the selected players will leave for Australia.
“There has been no date set. But Pujara, Vihari, and the support staff are intimated that they should be ready to travel any day now,” a BCCI official told TOI.
“Vihari and Pujara have not played matches since the New Zealand tour in February. They will need a lot of practice. The support staff will have to spend a lot of time with them. And a large squad will also help in playing practice games by dividing them into two teams. Like the IPL teams, the Indian team will also like to have quality net bowlers in these times,” the official added.
Times of India also reported that injured fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who flew back to India from UAE after sustaining back spasms, has traveled to National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. However, the official they talked to was not too excited about his chances of making it to Australia.
“It’s highly unlikely Ishant will be fit in time for the tour. He was happy that former India physio Patrick Farhart was looking after him at Capitals in Dubai. But since he is a BCCI-contracted player, he had to go to NCA,” the BCCI official said.
There are also concerns over the fitness of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who suffered a hip injury, and whether Hardik Pandya would bowl or not. The all-rounder has not bowled at all for the Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL 2020. “His bowling fitness is being monitored,” the source said.
The source mentioned that Hardik’s selection might depend on his ability to bowl, which he last did in nets in March before an ODI against South Africa in Dharamsala.
(Times of India and Cricbuzz inputs)
