India to play pink-ball contest against Australia's Prime Minister’s XI ahead of 2nd Test in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Published - 09 Aug 2024, 10:10 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:17 AM
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The India National Cricket Team is scheduled to travel to Australia for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series later this year. Team India will play an additional warm-up match with a pink ball against Australia's Prime Minister’s XI ahead of the second Test match in the highly anticipated series.
India endured a disappointing outing in their last pink-ball Test in Australia. They were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score (36) in Adelaide in 2020. However, the visitors bounced back with impressive performances in the remaining matches. India secured a remarkable series win 2-1 in Brisbane.
India To Play Two-Day Pink Ball Warmup Match
The Rohit Sharma-led team will play a two-day day-night tour match against the Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on November 30-December 1. This warmup match will take place between the first Test in Perth (November 22-26) and the second day-night Test at Adelaide Oval (December 6-10).
India has played in only four day-night Test matches. Team India last played the pink-ball Test match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022. In contrast, Australia has played 12 pink-ball Tests (all at home). The Australia team first suffered a pink-ball defeat against the West Indies in Brisbane last summer.
Our Nations’ Love For Cricket - Australian Prime Minister
The upcoming Prime Minister's XI match will showcase the strong cricketing relationship between India and Australia. Overall, they have played four matches against PM's XI in Australia, but it's the first time in a two-day format.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the close relationship between Australia and India has never been stronger. He recalled the honor of standing with Indian PM Narendra Modi at the Ahmedabad Test. Albanese expressed excitement about the PM's XI match against India in Canberra.
"As friends and partners, the relationship between Australia and India has never been closer," said Albanese.
"It was an absolute honour to stand alongside Prime Minister Modi at the Fourth Test in Ahmedabad last year and celebrate both our nations’ love for cricket.
“Over the years I’ve loved watching players like Sunil Gavaskar, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar so it’ll be great to see the PM’s XI face the Indian team in Canberra. I look forward to meeting with the National Selectors to discuss selection for the squad.”
India vs Australia Test series schedule
The upcoming Test series between Australia and India will start in Perth on November 22. The second Test match will be played in Adelaide from December 6-10. Meanwhile, the next Tests will be held in Brisbane (December 14-18) and Melbourne (December 26-30). The final match will be played in Sydney from January 3-7.
India will arrive in Australia after a three-match home Test series against New Zealand. They will have an intra-squad warm-up at the WACA from November 15-18 before the first Test against Australia. An India A team will also tour Australia in late October, playing two four-day games in Mackay and Melbourne.
