India are getting ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which will start in Perth on November 22. They were recently defeated 0-3 by New Zealand in the Test series, and barring one or two players, the team doesn’t have in-form cricketers.

The team will be without their regular captain, Rohit Sharma, who will miss the first Test due to personal reasons. There is no confirmation of his return for the second Test in Adelaide either. India National Cricket Team has added Abhimanyu Easwaran to the squad as a cover for the skipper.

He was included in India A squad for the two practice games against Australia A. He was dismissed for seven and 12 in the first game and failed to open the account in the first innings of the second contest.

After India’s flop batting show against New Zealand, the selectors sent KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel to Australia to get used to the conditions. Scott Boland dismissed Rahul for four runs. The failure of the two options in Rohit’s absence has increased the team management’s concerns.

India A were 65/5 at lunch on Day 1, with Michael Neser taking four wickets.