The visitors India have a busy schedule before the day-night pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval, starting on December 6. India thrashed the hosts Australia in the five-match Test series opener at Perth Stadium. The visitors are strongly preparing for the next game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which will be a day-night pink-ball Test match. Before losing their last day-night pink-ball Test match against West Indies at the Gabba (Brisbane) in January 2024, Australia won their first 11 day-night pink-ball Test matches. 

On the other hand, India recorded one win and one loss in their day-night pink-ball Test history. After beating the visitors Bangladesh by an innings and 46 runs at Kolkata in 2019, they suffered an eight-wicket defeat against the hosts Australia in Adelaide in 2020. The 2020 Adelaide Test experienced India’s 36 all-out in their second innings. 

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However, before the Adelaide Test, India will play a two-day practice match against Prime Minister XI. Canberra is set to host this practice match between November 30 and December 1.  

According to the Times of India, while India have no practice schedule on Thursday (November 28), they will have an afternoon practice before the two-day practice match. On Monday (December 2), Team India will travel to Adelaide for the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

India's schedule

November 28: No practice

November 29: Practice in the afternoon

November 30: Day 1 of the practice match against Prime Minister XI

December 1: Day 2 of the practice match against Prime Minister XI

December 2: Travel from Canberra to Adelaide

Rohit Sharma returns

Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who missed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener due to serving parental leave, has returned to Australia to lead India in the next four Tests of the series. In fact, he landed in Australia after the beginning of the Perth Test and already started his practice during that Test match.

Shubman Gill is in the recovery process

On the other hand, Shubman Gill is recovering from his injury. Due to his left thumb injury, which he received during the match simulations just before the Test series opener, Gill missed out on the Perth Test. Devdutt Padikkal replaced him in the Perth Test, who scored 0 and 25 runs in that Test. As the skipper Rohit Sharma is set to lead the Test side, Padikkal is likely to be dropped from the playing XI.

During the Perth Test, Gill was seen with protection around his injured thumb. However, in the latest videos released by the BCCI, Gill had no protection around his injured thumb. We will learn about his latest fitness status soon, but he isn’t expected for the two-day practice match, at least for the caution. 

Gautam Gambhir likely to join before 2nd Test

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has recently returned to India due to a personal emergency. The other coaching staff Abhishek Nayar, Morne Morkel, and Ryan ten Doeschate are handling the team at present. Gambhir is expected to rejoin the team in Adelaide on December 3.