Team India has reached Australia for the 5-Test Border-Gavaskar series. Some players of the Indian team also took part in the practice session at the old WACA ground in Perth. Meanwhile, information is coming out about the Indian team that now Team India will play an intra-squad match before the Perth Test starting on November 22. This match will be played at the WACA ground starting Friday.
Border-Gavaskar Series: Earlier also an intra-squad match was part of the Indian tour. But the BCCI had decided to cancel this match with the intention of protecting the players from injury. Now this information is coming that the Indian team will play an intra-squad match. Let us tell you that already the India-A team led by Rituraj Gaikwad has come on Australia tour. This team has also played two practice matches against Australia-A. Now an intra-squad match will be played with this team.
India’s fringe batters in the WACA nets. Main team have not arrived pic.twitter.com/coaeFLBEFh
— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) November 13, 2024
The BCCI has imposed a restriction on the intra-squad match of the Indian team. This match will be behind closed doors, that is, the spectators will not be able to watch this match. This match will run from Friday to Sunday.
India started its practice a day earlier for the Border-Gavaskar series starting from November 22 at the Optus Stadium. Black covers have been put up outside the stadium so that no one can see Team India’s practice even from near the road. Not only this, the ground staff is also prohibited from using the phone outside their office and there is no permission to make videos inside the ground.
Where did this verbal war start?
Border-Gavaskar Series: A verbal war has started between the two countries before this series. This verbal war is going on between Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and Ricky Ponting,
This controversy started when Ricky Ponting, while talking on the ICC podcast, questioned the recent form of Indian batsman Virat Kohli. Ponting said that in the last five years, Virat has scored only three centuries in 60 Test innings, which is very less for a top batsman like him. He also said that if any other batsman like Kohli had performed like this, he would probably have been out of the team by now. According to Ponting, “It is worrying that a top order batsman has scored only three centuries in the last five years.”
Indian coach Gautam Gambhir gave a befitting reply to this comment of Ricky Ponting. In a press conference before the Indian team left for Australia, Gambhir said, “Ponting has nothing to do with Indian cricket, he should focus on his country’s team. Players like Virat and Rohit are very important for Indian cricket and they have contributed a lot to Indian cricket, and will continue to do so. I am not worried about their form.”
Ponting’s retort on Gambhir
Border-Gavaskar Series: After this reaction of Gautam Gambhir, Ricky Ponting also did not remain silent. Ponting targeted Gambhir on Channel Seven. He described Gambhir as a “flamboyant” personality and said that he expected such a reaction from him. Ponting also said, “My intention was not to criticize Kohli, but I believe that Kohli always performs well in Australia and this time too his good performance will be seen.”
Ponting also said in his humorous style that if Gambhir comes to meet him, he is ready to shake hands with him, but it is unlikely that Gambhir will shake hands with him.
