India Coach Abhishek Nayar Confident In Team's Readiness For Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to begin on November 22, and India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar is confident about the team's readiness. He shared with BCCI.TV that the three-day match simulation sessions at Perth's WACA were crucial for both batsmen and bowlers.

"Just before we came to Australia, Gauti bhai [head coach Gautam Gambhir], Rohit [Sharma], and I discussed what we wanted out of these three days," Nayar said. "The idea was to give the younger and experienced guys a lot of time in the center to adapt and understand conditions. We're playing Test cricket in Australia after four years, so adapting quickly is key."

Nayar detailed how the simulation sessions were structured to replicate real match conditions. Initially, players had only one chance, but later they were given another opportunity, which helped them adjust better. This approach allowed them to become more comfortable with the conditions.

The focus was on getting used to Australian pitches and managing workloads effectively. Jasprit Bumrah bowled 18 overs during these sessions, while other bowlers also put in significant efforts. "Day two was about bowlers coming in and bowling spells, getting up the workloads, and building game sense," Nayar explained.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed satisfaction with the bowlers' performance. "Very happy with how the bowlers went. They summed up the conditions very well," he stated. Morkel also praised Mohammad Siraj for his leadership role in the bowling attack.

"He's got a big heart and an aggressive mindset. He was the go-to man in tough situations last time, and we're excited to see him in a senior role this tour," Morkel told The Hindu.

Training Schedule

The Indian team spent three days at WACA for net sessions followed by three days of match simulations. Starting Tuesday, they will move their training to Optus Stadium, where the first Test will take place. With three training sessions remaining, Morkel aims to finalize game strategies.

The series opener in Perth marks the start of an intense five-match Test series. As defending champions, India hopes to continue their winning streak in Australia by securing a third consecutive series victory on Australian soil.