Take sachin tendulkar

Cricket Australia XI: Former India cricketer Surinder Khanna is hopeful about India’s prospects in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite their recent setbacks, urging the team to draw strength from past comebacks against Australia. Reflecting on India’s resilience in the 2020-21 series after their historic collapse, Khanna believes the squad’s class will shine through in the upcoming series, but stressed that match practice could have better prepared them for the Australian challenge.

The team management opted to focus on net practice sessions and match simulation instead as they gear up for the marquee five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22 in Perth. Khanna believes that missing out on match practice could hinder India’s readiness for the challenging Australian conditions, where they’ll face pace, bounce, and a motivated host side.

Reflecting on past tours, Khanna emphasised how match-practice had served India well in the past. During the 2018-19 series, India played a four-day game against a Cricket Australia XI and followed it up in the 2020-21 series with a three-day match against Australia A. The absence of a similar lead-up game this time around, especially after a disappointing 0-3 Test series defeat to New Zealand, is cause for concern.