Anil Kumble expresses shock at BCCI's 'blunder' that could haunt India in BGT 2024-25

Legendary spinner Anil Kumble has questioned Team India's decision to not play any practice match before the five-match Test series against Australia.

After the humiliating 3-0 loss at home against New Zealand, India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship are hanging by a thread. India need to win the series by a margin of 4-0 to make it to the final for the third time in a row.

With a place in the WTC final on the line, not many were expecting Team India to go into the series without playing any practice games. However, captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that the team would not be playing any practice matches in the build-up to the important series. The Indian team was set to face India A in Perth before the series but the game will not take place anymore.

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Anil Kumble on India's decision:

The decision to cancel the game has taken many by surprise including Anil Kumble. The former India captain and head coach said that a practice match would have been an ideal preparation for the team. Anil Kumble said that no matter how much the players practice in nets, facing bowlers in a match is a totally different situation.

"I'm a bit surprised that India don't have a practice match going into the first Test because that would have been an ideal preparation. No matter how much you practice in the nets, going out in the middle and facing a few bowlers in the match is totally different," Anil Kumble told JioCinema.

Earlier, India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that the team won't be playing any practice game before the start of the five-match series against Australia. Speaking after the third Test against New Zealand, the veteran batsman explained the reason behind the team management's decision to cancel the practice match.

"We are travelling with a squad of 19 players and only three days were allotted to us. I don’t know how much workload we can get in those three days in terms of getting everyone prepared. The management feels that we’d rather have a match simulation where batters can spend more time in the middle and the bowlers can bowl a lot of balls."

Sharma and his teammates will be desperate to bounce back in Australia after the humiliating defeat against New Zealand. India have won their last two Test series in Australia and will be eyeing an unprecedented third straight Test series win on Australian soil.