"Can’t get my head around a team like India only wanting to play an intra-squad game" - Michael Vaughan ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed surprise at India refusing to play a proper warm-up game ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Vaughan reckons the venue at the WACA was the perfect venue to get used to the pace and bounce of the Optus Stadium.
The visitors decided to shelve the practice game and instead opted for a simulation intra-squad match and net sessions ahead of the marquee five-Test series. Rohit Sharma and Co. are under pressure ahead of the series after suffering a 3-0 whitewash to New Zealand at home.
Speaking to Fox Cricket, the 50-year-old said it's hard to see India getting into the swing of things after not playing a warm-up game.
"I can’t get my head around a team like India only wanting to play an intra-squad game leading into a series against Australia in their own backyard," he said. "I just can’t see how you get yourself in that competitive mindset of consequence by playing an intra-squad game. I’m surprised that this Indian side didn’t want at least one game of cricket, and the WACA’s the perfect venue because it’s a similar pitch to Optus (Stadium), so you get used to the bounce."
The simulation training game saw the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli show some promise ahead of the high-voltage series. However, Shubman Gill sustained a finger injury while fielding, ruling him out of the series opener.
"These players have a different kind of mindset to what we had" - Michael Vaughan
In the same discussion, Vaughan underlined that modern-day players have a different mindset compared to his generation. He added that it will be interesting to see how both teams cope with the conditions once they are out in the middle.
"These players have a different kind of mindset to what we had, whereas we probably needed more games," he said. "They’re playing 12 months of the year and get straight into it, but it’ll be intriguing to see how both sets of players settle on that first day when they’re playing the longer form. They think they get enough cricket throughout the year and they can react and just adapt."
Team India are likely to be without Rohit for the opening Test, with Jasprit Bumrah expected to lead in his absence.