With the Indian team undergoing match simulation sessions at WACA in Perth ahead of the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22, the spotlight has been on India’s batting as well. While Shubman Gill has been sidelined for the opening Test due to a thumb injury, the Indian team spent two days in match simulation at the WACA ground. Skipper Rohit Sharma though will not be available for the opening Test as he is still with his family in India after the birth of his second child last week. India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar spelled out what skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir had discussed ahead of the tour and believes that the batsman have adapted to the conditions.

“Just before we came to Australia, Gauti bhai and Rohit, we had a discussion on what we wanted out in these three days. The idea was to try and make sure that one for the younger guys and all for the experienced guys to give them a lot of time in the centre to adapt to understand conditions. We are coming to play Test cricket here after four years and it’s important to adapt,” Nayar told BCCI.TV on Monday.

While KL Rahul had left the field early in the Intra-squad match simulation on Friday last week, the Karnataka batsman was not at the training session at WACA on Sunday as reported by Australian media. Virat Kohli had made scores of 15 and 30 not out in the first day of match simulation on Friday and Kohli along with Yasahsvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant did not opt for training session on Sunday. Nayar also reflected on his thoughts on the batsmen adapting better for the second time in the match.

???????? On track for the 22nd ????

Assistant Coach @abhisheknayar1 & Bowling Coach @mornemorkel65 wrap up #TeamIndia's Match Simulation in Perth ????????

WATCH ???????? #AUSvIND

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 18, 2024

“Initially, we got the guys to come in, had it like a game where if you got out, you got out. But then we tried to give them another chance. Second time around and we felt that the guys adapted better the second time around, they understood the conditions better. They got a lot more comfortable. We got what we wanted out of it. Day two was quite similar where we then were also using facilities outside, getting the nets in, getting the quality and the quality down in the center,” said Nayar.

Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah bowled 18 overs on the second day of the match simulation and Nayar believes that the bowlers have got the game sense of bowling in Australia with the matches. India has not opted for a Tour match ahead of the five-match series. “Day two was about our bowlers coming in and bowling spells, getting up the workloads, bowling 15 overs each. Boom (Bumrah) bowled 18 overs. A couple more also bowled 18 overs. It was just more about getting guys into the game sense,” Nayar said.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel was seen spending time with Bumrah along with Mohammad Siraj along with other bowlers. The Indian team had three days of net sessions followed by three days of match simulation at the WACA and will start training at the Optus Stadium starting Tuesday. “Very happy with how the bowlers went. They summed up the conditions very well. I think we are on track for the 22nd. Another three training sessions left. We’ll sit down this afternoon or tomorrow and start planning, looking at game plans and how we’re going to bring out the best in each and everyone for game time on the 22nd,” said the former South Africa pacer.

Morkel also showered praise on Siraj. The pacer had made his debut in the second Test during the last tour of India in Australia and had picked up 13 wickets in the series including a five-wicket haul in Brisbane. “This man, he is a legend. He’s got a big heart, aggressive mindset, one of the leaders of the attack and I am very excited to see how good he is on this tour. Last tour, he was the go to man in tough situations and we are excited to see more of that senior role coming out of him in a very important tour,” said Morkel.