India’s preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia began with some injury concerns at the WACA Ground in Perth. Star batter Virat Kohli, who initially underwent scans for an injury, was declared fit and participated fully in the team’s match-simulation practice session. Kohli’s form will be pivotal in the series given his impressive record in Australia, where he has scored 1352 runs across 13 matches at an average of 54.08, including six centuries and four half-centuries. His standout performance came during the 2014-15 series, where he amassed 692 runs, making him a key player as India targets a strong series result to boost their World Test Championship (WTC) chances.
Another injury concern arose with KL Rahul, who sustained a hit on his right elbow during an intra-squad match. While the injury initially caused alarm, sources confirmed that he is recovering well and there are no serious issues. Rahul, likely to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal if captain Rohit Sharma misses the first Test, will be essential to India’s lineup as the team looks to set a solid foundation against Australia’s formidable bowling attack.
The series opener is scheduled for November 22, and the Indian team’s fitness and form in practice will be crucial for their performance on Australian soil.
