Rain Washes Out India’s Practice Match Against PM’s XI, Disrupting Preparations for Pink Ball Test
Unrelenting rain in Canberra forced the abandonment of the opening day of India’s two-day practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval on Saturday. This setback denied crucial pink-ball practice to captain Rohit Sharma and opener Shubman Gill ahead of the second day-night Test against Australia, scheduled to begin on December 6 in Adelaide.
To make up for the lost time, the teams have agreed to play a 50-over-a-side match on Sunday, weather permitting. This could provide some game-time for key players, but the washed-out practice was a blow to India’s preparation for the challenging pink-ball format.
Missed Opportunity for Rohit and Gill
For captain Rohit Sharma, the rain-induced delay was particularly frustrating. He had opted out of the first Test in Perth to be with his family for the birth of his baby boy. While Rohit has undergone rigorous pink-ball training sessions in the nets, the absence of match conditions may impact his readiness for the high-stakes Test. India last played a day-night Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in March 2022, making game-time with the pink ball even more critical.
Shubman Gill, who missed the Perth Test due to a finger injury, also faced a missed chance to ease back into competitive cricket. Gill, expected to replace Devdutt Padikkal in the Adelaide playing XI, had been gearing up with net sessions and was looking forward to this warm-up match to regain his rhythm.
Pink Ball History and Sunday’s Hopes
India has a mixed record in day-night Tests, with four matches played so far. After a victory over Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019, India faced a humiliating defeat against Australia in Adelaide in 2020. They recovered with back-to-back wins against England (Ahmedabad, 2021) and Sri Lanka (Bengaluru, 2022) at home.
The Sunday match now becomes crucial for Rohit and Gill, who aim to fine-tune their techniques and strategies under pink-ball conditions. It also offers the team a chance to build momentum ahead of the Adelaide showdown.
What’s Next?
With weather forecasts improving, the Indian team will look to make the most of the 50-over practice game to finalize their plans for the Adelaide Test. Fans and team management alike will be hoping the rain stays away, allowing India’s key players to enter the Test arena in top form.
