According to the BCCI’s plans, the players who feature in both T20Is and Tests will be split between the two matches. As of now, captain Kohli, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar are expected to feature in both Test and T20I squads
Mumbai: Indian cricket is set to script history in Australia in November as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning a “two-team” strategy for Test success Down Under.
When India were outplayed 1-4 in the Test series in England recently, most of the experts blamed it on the lack of preparation. Now, the BCCI is not taking chances on that for the upcoming tour to Australia where the Virat Kohli-led side will play four Tests from December.
As India will play the T20I series first before the five-day games, the BCCI is planning to have two teams playing simultaneously – one in warm-up matches and the other in T20Is, according to a report in the Mumbai Mirror on Saturday.
This will be a historic move, considering that no two Indian teams have played at the same time in the same tour at different venues.
According to the BCCI’s plans, the players who feature in both T20Is and Tests will be split between the two matches. As of now, captain Kohli, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar are expected to feature in both Test and T20I squads.
While Kohli is set to don the blue jersey in the three T20Is on November 21, 23 and 25, some of the others might be picked to play the two warm-up games.
The practice matches are yet to be finalised and discussions are on between the BCCI and Cricket Australia (CA), according to the Mumbai Mirror report.
“It is happening. We have been assured of two warm-up games. This is the preparation from our side. If we get a second match, which we are almost confident about, this is the plan,” a source in the BCCI told the newspaper.
The report also added the Indian team for warm-up matches could be guided by ‘A’ side coach Rahul Dravid.
The first Test between India and Australia starts on December 6 in Adelaide. The Tests will be followed by three ODIs in January 2019. India have never won a Test series in Australia.
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