India’s Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari have started their preparations for the Australia series. India will tour down under for a lengthy series comprising of ODIs, T20Is and Tests. The series will begin with the ODIs and end with the four-match Test series. Meanwhile. Pujara and Vihari have started preparing at the ICC academy from Friday evening. The first Test will be played under lights in Adelaide from December 17.

“The team realises the need to prepare for such an intense series and we want to use as much of our time judiciously in Dubai. We will have sessions under lights from today and with the pink ball. Today’s session will be a three-hour session approximately,” a source told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Indian team management has roped in a new throwdown specialist after Raghu had to skip travelling to the UAE with the rest of the support staff as he is down with COVID-19. His name is Nuwan Seneviratne. His left-arm throwdowns are something that will help the Indians prepare for the Australian pace unit which is led by Mitchell Starc.

“Pujara, Vihari, and the rest are currently working with Nuwan in Raghu’s absence. It is unfortunate but you cannot do anything about Raghu testing positive for coronavirus. Looking at the brighter side, Nuwan brings in the left-arm angle and that is a plus as Starc is an integral part of the Australian attack,” the source added.

Meanwhile, India is leading the points table in the World Test Championship with 360 points. Australia (296), England (292) and New Zealand (180) follow next.

After the first Test in Adelaide, the second match is the Boxing Day Test which will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26 to 30), while the third Test will be at the Sydney Cricket Ground from (January 7 to 11) and the final Test at the Gabba from (January 15 to 19).The Indian team will leave two days after the IPL 2020 final on November 10.

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Complete Schedule For Australia Series

1st ODI: November 27 — SCG

2nd ODI: November 29 — SCG

3rd ODI: December 1 — Manuka Oval

1st T20I: December 4 — Manuka Oval

2nd T20I: December 6 — SCG

3rd T20I: December 8 — SCG

1st Test: December 17-21 — Adelaide Oval

2nd Test: December 26-31 — MCG

3rd Test: January 7- 11 — SCG

4th Test: January 15-19 — Brisbane

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