Fresh from a historic 295-run victory against Australia in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), the Indian cricket team will return to the cricket field on Friday (November 30) at the Manuka Oval In Canberra as they face the Prime Minister XI in a two-day match.
This match will mark Rohit Sharma's first outing on the Australian tour after Indian skipper joined the squad in the middle of the first Test. The 37-year-old missed the Perth Test following the birth of his second child on November 15.
Shubman Gill might also return for the Indian team after missing the series opener due to thumb injury after batting in the nets on the eve of the match.
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Who Are The Prime Minister XI?
The Prime Minister's XI is a cricket team, picked by Australia's Prime Minister (currently Anthony Albanese). Normally, it is a team that is picked from up-and-coming cricketers. In the squad set to face India, pacer Scott Boland, part of Australia's 14-member Test squad for the BGT, is also part. Another capped Test player, Matt Renshaw, is also playing the match.
The PM XI plays a visiting overseas team in an annual fixture at the Manuka Oval. From 1951 (when West Indies faced them), the fixture was a one-day match. For the first time in 2022, the match was held in a four-day format (pink ball match). Pakistan also played a four-day game in 2023 while India is also playing a day-night, two-day match this year.
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Don Bradman had famously come out of retirement in 1963 to play for PM XI against Marylebone CC.
India has played PM XI thrice (1991, 1999, 2004) and lost all three times in ODI games.
Why Are India Playing Them In Middle Of The Series?
The second Test match between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval starting December 6 is a pink-ball Test (day-night Test) and hence the match against PM XI has been scheduled to allow India to acclimatised to playing with the different ball and under lights.
India have played just four day-night Tests in history with the last of them coming in March 2022 (more than 2.5 years ago) against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
India played a pink-ball Test vs Australia at the same venue (Adelaide) in 2020 and were infamously bowled out for 36.
PM XI Squad to Face India: Jack Edwards(c), Matt Renshaw, Jack Clayton, Oliver Davies, Jayden Goodwin, Sam Harper(w), Charlie Anderson, Sam Konstas, Scott Boland, Lloyd Pope, Hanno Jacobs, Mahli Beardman, Aidan O Connor, Jem Ryan