The preparation is done. Now, India U-19 coach Yere Goud wants his players to execute their plans against a formidable Australian side.

India has spent the past three months preparing for the series, which Goud sees as an opportunity for the players to test themselves against quality opposition and continue their development.

“Australia is always a formidable side. From the preparation point of view, we are happy that we’ve covered all the areas. In detail, we have done everything. It is now about executing the plans. We know what are the challenges which come up in the game against Australia, so we are prepared for it,” Goud told Sports stars on Thursday, ahead of the series-opening one-day fixture.

For Goud, the series is about more than results. The focus is on giving the players exposure to bigger challenges and seeing how they respond in different match situations.

“The whole idea of this bilateral series is about exposure and development of the boys. From where they were and probably with the exposure to the bigger games, how they develop themselves in circumstances wherever they are put in a game situation, in that way,” he said.

Playing at home could give India an added advantage. Several players are from Saurashtra and are familiar with the conditions in Rajkot.

“Most of them would have played the Vinod Mankad Trophy here, in the Saurashtra Cricket Association Ground, and have a fair bit of an idea about how the wicket behaves. There’s definitely an advantage in terms of that aspect, and also conditions with regard to the ground,” Goud said.

There is also competition within the squad, with players looking to make their mark as the U-19 programme builds towards the 2028 World Cup. Goud, however, does not want the pressure of selection to affect them.

“We always look at the preparation point of view, whether the preparation is good and, in terms of the player, whether he’s doing the processes right, whether he is trying to execute his game plan according to what we have discussed. That is what we’re looking at. We’re not looking at the outcome at this point of view. As I mentioned earlier, it is more of a development for us and we don’t put them under pressure. We want the boys to explore and probably express themselves on the field,” he said.

Goud has been around this age-group set-up before, having travelled to Australia with the India U-19 squad last year and worked with the batch that went on to win the World Cup. He admits that coaching an U-19 team is different from working with a Ranji Trophy side.

“I know how we have to address a player because, in terms of speaking to a Ranji Trophy guy and a player who has represented the country and a player who just started his career. There are different ways to communicate. Probably, with our coaching experience, we know when to touch upon and when not to touch upon, and what are the areas you have to address actually to them,” he said.

The players have also undergone high-performance camps at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where the skill, physical and mental aspects of the game have been addressed.

“We have already had a discussion. So, all the things which are required for a player: skill-wise, in terms of the physical aspect of the game, mental aspect of the game, have been covered in the CoE,” Goud said.

India will play a three-match One-day series, followed by two multi-day fixtures against Australia U-19.