As the Indian cricket team gears up for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, their match simulation at the WACA has raised concerns about their preparedness. The practice intra-squad game, aimed at fine-tuning their skills, exposed vulnerabilities against short-pitched bowling on a relatively tame WACA pitch.

Opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul struggled to find their rhythm, with Rahul being hit on the elbow by a rising delivery and Jaiswal falling victim to a typical Perth dismissal, caught behind for 15. Virat Kohli’s brief stint in the middle was marked by a couple of elegant cover drives, but he too succumbed to a nicked delivery at second slip, scoring 15.

Rishabh Pant’s aggressive start was halted by Nitish Reddy, who clean-bowled him for 19. Pant’s struggles against shortish balls were evident, a worrying sign for India’s middle order.

The simulation highlighted three key concerns for India:

KL Rahul’s injury: The opener’s early departure due to an elbow injury has raised concerns about his availability for the first Test.

Kohli’s fluency: Despite his brief stay, Kohli looked fluent, but his dismissal underscored the challenges posed by Australia’s pace attack.

Pant’s vulnerability: The wicketkeeper-batters’ struggles against short-pitched bowling could be exploited by Australia’s bowlers.

However, a positive development was Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership role. The pace spearhead was spotted engaging in an intense one-on-one chat with Gautam Gambhir, lasting over an hour, and offering advice to Prasidh Krishna. Bumrah’s proactive approach has sparked speculation about his potential leadership role in Rohit Sharma’s absence.

With the first Test just around the corner, India must address these concerns to mount a strong challenge against Australia. Will they overcome their struggles and emerge victorious in Perth? The answer will unfold soon.