Fri Nov 15 20:08:12 IST 2024: ## Indian Stars Fail to Impress in Warm-up Match Ahead of Australia Test Series
**Perth, November 15, 2024** – Indian cricket star Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant failed to impress in a practice match against India A, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a warm-up ahead of the upcoming Test series against Australia.
The three-day practice match, held behind closed doors at the WACA Ground, was designed to give the Indian players valuable experience on Australian soil before facing the formidable Australian bowling attack.
Kohli, who started his innings with his trademark aggressive style, was dismissed for a paltry 15 runs, caught by Mukesh Kumar at slip. Pant, who had shown promise in the recent Test series against New Zealand, also fell cheaply for 19 runs, bowled by Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Another disappointing performance came from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was out for 15 runs. Shubman Gill, who had a good start, was caught at gully for 28 runs.
While the Indian team struggled against the India A bowlers, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal impressed in the second innings, scoring a half-century. Gill also showed improvement, remaining unbeaten on 42 runs. Kohli, however, failed to make a significant impact, being dismissed for 30 runs in the second innings.
India’s lack of match practice ahead of the first Test, scheduled for November 22 in Perth, is a cause for concern. With no other warm-up matches planned, the BCCI intervened to organize this practice match, which ultimately offered limited reassurance for the Indian team’s performance in the upcoming Test series.
The injury to KL Rahul, who had to leave the field due to a suspected elbow injury after being hit by a ball from Prasidh Krishna, also added to the worries for the Indian team. The severity of the injury remains unclear.
The first Test against Australia promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams eager to gain an early advantage in the series.
First Piper 