As the Indian team made its way from Hotel Realm, not too far away, to the Manuka Oval on Friday afternoon for their only full session with the pink ball ahead of their two-day match against a Prime Minister’s XI, a thin film of rain welcomed them. Thick, grey clouds hung menacingly over the Australian capital, threatening to scupper a meaningful training session, but the Indians found ways and means to dodge the elements and get some serious practice time under their belts.

Competitive opposition

The PM’s XI is a reasonably competitive side, led by Jack Edwards and includes internationals Scott Boland and Matt Renshaw as well as Sam Konstas, the New South Wales batter who, it is expected, will make his Test debut at some stage over the next six weeks. All of them will go all out to make an impression on George Bailey, the chief selector, and national skipper Pat Cummins. For the Indians, on the other hand, the goal is simple — get all their batters and bowlers to have a feel of the pink ball, with its pronounced lacquer, before hitting Adelaide, where the day-night Test begins on December 6.