India cancel intra-squad match on Australia tour, want more time in the nets: Report

The Indian team wants to spend more time in the nets instead of playing a practice match against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India 'A' on their tour of Australia beginning later this month, according to a report in the PTI.

India 'A' are also in Australia for a series of unofficial Tests and are scheduled to play a three-day match against the senior team ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy beginning with the first Test on November 22 in Perth .

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"Head coach Gautam Gambhir and some senior players want more time in the nets instead," the report said. It added that "since the bounce of the WACA centre strip resembles that of the Perth Stadium track, all top-order batters would prefer more time in the middle. (But) an intra-squad match might not work in that scenario because if a batter gets out cheaply, then he might not immediately get a chance to bat again on the centre strip."

India will defend the BGT over a series of five Tests, which is also part of the World Test Championship cycle and will decide whether India stay in the top two of the WTC table to qualify for the final.

The Indian team hasn't had the ideal preparation for the Australian tour, losing two consecutive Tests against New Zealand at home to concede the three-match series.

India, however, haven't lost the BGT in the last 10 years, which includes series triumphs on their last two Test tours of Australia.