India vs Australia PM's XI Tour Game: Rohit Sharma & Co. Focus on Batting Combinations Ahead of Day-Night Test

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Canberra, Nov 29: With the pink-ball Test against Australia looming in Adelaide in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, India will look to fine-tune their batting line-up during a two-day practice game against the Australia Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval from Saturday (November 30).

This encounter offers a crucial opportunity for Indian batters to get acclimated to the pink ball, which tends to move prodigiously under twilight conditions-a factor that played a decisive role in their infamous collapse for 36 at the same venue four years ago.

Rohit Sharma back at leading Team India

Coming off a commanding win in the first Test at Perth, India's spirits are high. However, with Rohit Sharma rejoining the squad after the birth of his second child and Shubman Gill nearing full fitness, the team management faces a delicate balancing act in reconfiguring the batting order.

Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the designated openers, but KL Rahul's impressive showing in Perth opens up the possibility of Rohit batting lower down to accommodate Gill or even provide stability in the middle order.

Key Areas of Focus for Team India

Batting Combinations: The Indian team will be keen to test various combinations at the top and in the middle order. The think tank will likely use this match to finalize roles and responsibilities ahead of the Adelaide Test.

Pink-Ball Conditions: Indian batters, including key players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, will aim to get a feel for the pink ball under match conditions. Given the twilight effect, it's a valuable dress rehearsal before the high-stakes encounter in Adelaide.

Game Time for Reserves: Players like Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, who might not feature in the playing XI unless injuries occur, could see valuable time in the middle to showcase their readiness.

Team News:

Gill's participation in the nets on Friday indicates that he is close to full recovery. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar and R Ashwin will be pivotal in assessing how spinners fare with the pink ball, particularly during the longer sessions.

PM's XI Challenge:

Led by Jack Edwards, the PM's XI features a mix of experience and promising young talent, including Test regular Scott Boland and U-19 prospects like Charlie Anderson and Aidan O'Connor. Fast-bowling all-rounder Hanno Jacobs and experienced batter Matthew Renshaw will also be key figures in the contest, offering India a competitive workout.

Probable Focus Points

• India's top-order shuffle and middle-order flexibility.
• How the seamers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, exploit the pink ball.
• The performance of Australia's rising stars will provide insight into their bench strength.

Match Details:

• Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra
• Start Time: 9:10 AM IST
• Where To Watch: StarSports Network & Disney+Hotstar

With just a two-day window, both teams will be eager to maximize their batting time, making this an intriguing prelude to the blockbuster day-night Test in Adelaide.

The Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.

PM's XI: Jack Edwards (C), Charlie Anderson, Mahli Beardman, Scott Boland, Jack Clayton, Aidan O'Connor, Ollie Davies, Jayden Goodwin, Sam Harper, Hanno Jacobs, Sam Konstas, Lloyd Pope, Matthew Renshaw, Jem Ryan.