In preparation for their upcoming match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian cricket team was seen rehearsing at the storied “The Gabba” on Thursday. This follows a disheartening loss to Australia in Adelaide. The team and coaches were fully focused on preparation throughout the practice session.
Virat Kohli, the team’s star batsman, was spotted warming up and stretching. During a serious conversation, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and head coach Gautam Gambhir were probably planning for the next Test.
After vigorously warming up, captain Rohit Sharma was spotted talking with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj were also concentrating on their running and stretching exercises.
Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir seemed to be having a serious discussion. Gambhir also spoke with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Seafarer Akash Deep joined young Devdutt Padikkal and Harshit Rana as they were jogging.
Also spotted warming up was Jasprit Bumrah, who was outstanding in the first Test.
In a huddle, fielding coach T Dilip is pointing out specifics and giving advise, particularly to Yashasvi Jaiswal, as Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli address the squad.
After that, the squad practiced slip-catching techniques during a fielding session. While Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal took their places in the slips, Rishabh Pant took his place behind the stumps. They were then joined in the slip cordon by Devdutt Padikkal.
The Indian squad is determined to win the current series against Australia, as evidenced by their intense practice session at The Gabba.
Recalling the Adelaide Test, India chose to bat first after winning the toss. But they had to contend with the fury of a movable, unpredictable pink ball and Mitchell Starc, who was behind it (6/48). There were few highlights for India, who were bowled out for 180 runs, aside from a 69-run partnership for the second wicket between KL Rahul (37 in 64 balls with six fours) and Shubman Gill (31 in 51 balls, with five fours), and a valiant 42 in 54 balls (three fours and three sixes) from Nitish Kumar Reddy. Both Scott Boland and captain Cummins claimed two wickets.
Travis Head’s counterattacking 140 in 141 balls, with 17 fours and four sixes, just as the Australians were losing some regular wickets, was made possible by a 67-run partnership between Nathan McSweeney (39 in 109 balls, with six fours) and Marnus Labuschagne (64 in 126 balls, with nine fours) for the second wicket in the first innings. Australia now leads by 157 runs after his century, which brought them to 337 runs.
India’s best bowlers were Mohammed Siraj (4/98) and Jasprit Bumrah (4/61). Nitish and Ravichandran both claimed a wicket.
Despite starts from Jaiswal (24 in 31 balls, with four boundaries) and Gill (28 in 30 balls, with three fours), India looked even more toothless in their second innings as their star-studded middle-order and top-order slumped back to the pavilion. Virat Kohli (11 in 21 balls, with a four) and KL Rahul (7) also did not score well. India finished the second day with 128/5.
Pant was also dismissed for 28 in 31 balls with five fours on the third day. The Australians were unable to turn back after that, defeating India by 175 runs in 36.5 overs. India had an 18-run lead, and the Australians needed 19 runs to win.
Skipper Cummins (5/67) took a majestic five-wicket haul, his eighth as a captain. Boland took 3/51 while Starc took 2/60.
Set a target of 19 runs, Khawaja (10*) and McSweeney (9*) chased it down without breaking a sweat in 3.2 overs.