Anil Kumble, who is a former player of the Indian national cricket team and a leg-spin bowler, did not understand BCCI’s decision to cancel the warm up match before the first Test match with Australia to be held in Perth from November 22. The ODI series against New Zealand ended in a 3-0 whitewash against the Test series although the Indian team was supposed to play a practice match against India and the BCCI knocked off the match. Kumble, speaking during the discussion on JioCinema, said that a practice match would have been great for the team’s readiness however such match practice cannot be substituted with only net sessions and facing bowlers.
“I am a little taken aback that given the fact India is heading for the first Test, America has not set up a practice match, which would have been the right build up. It is not the same how many nets one is put to practice and then comes a time to stand and face a few bowlers in an actual match,” he said.
KL Rahul a right-handed batsman along with wicketkeeper-batter Dhurv Jurel is set to join the India A team ahead of their second four-day game against Australia A scheduled to place at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on the 7th of November.
As per the IANS news agency, Rahul and Jurel departed for Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday night after the third Test match at the Wankhede Stadium which India lost by 25 runs to New Zealand and concluded with a series whitewash of 0-3.
As revealed by the sources, Rahul and Jurel will be part of the India ‘A’ squad not later than Tuesday, and will participate in the second four-day game, purposely to enable them get some game before joining the main Test team in preparation for the critical Border-Gavaskar Trophy series commencing on November 22 in Perth. Thereafter, it shall be followed by series of matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to January 7, 2025.
Rahul participated in three Tests during the home season in India, the last of which was played by the hosts in the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Making 0 and 12 in that game, in which India lost by eight wickets, he did not take part in the rest of the series.
In contrast, Jurel did not get an opportunity to play in the five Tests that India had at home but he did get to play as a sub wicketkeeper in the first Test of India played in Bengaluru where he came in after Rishabh Pant had a knee injury while keeping.
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