India's youngsters gear up for tough test series in Australia

A Test series against Australia is often described as a transformative experience, with players returning as "better cricketers," according to head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior team members. For several young Indian players, the upcoming tour to Australia will be a baptism by fire, as the squad features eight players making their debut on Australian soil.

Among them are Yashaswi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna. All will have plenty to prove when the series begins on November 22.

The seasoned trio of Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah will be key figures, sharing their invaluable experiences with the newcomers. Kohli and Ashwin are on their fifth tour of Australia, while Bumrah is gearing up for his third red-ball series in the country.

India's batting coach, Abhishek Nayar, shared insights from a recent team meeting: "Gauti bhai (Gambhir) had a chat with the boys, with senior players like Bumrah, Virat, and Ashwin. They spoke about their first tours, how they felt as youngsters with a lot of seniors around, and how playing in Australia made them better cricketers."

"These young players are eager, raring to go, and keen to make a name for themselves. Touring Australia is one of the toughest challenges for any cricketer," Nayar added.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel described the series as a "showpiece on the international calendar," predicting fierce competition. "It's going to be hard-fought sessions, with both teams not giving an inch," said Morkel. "Five Test matches is a grueling test, and after each day's play, you'll know you've given it your all."

India has dominated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in recent years, winning four consecutive series, including historic triumphs in 2018-19 and 2020-21. India remains the only Asian nation to win a Test series in Australia and is the only team Australia hasn't beaten in their last 16 Test series.

"It's become a big part of Indian cricket to come here and perform well. It's a proud moment for us that India won here twice in the last two series," said assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.