Why are India and Prime Minister's XI playing 50-over per side pink ball game?

The India vs Prime Minister’s XI game is being played at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

India and Australia Prime Minister’s XI were scheduled to play a two-day pink-ball game at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on November 30 and December 1. This was to give the visiting Indian team some practice for the second test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 that will be played in Adelaide.

The second test in Adelaide will be a day-night affair with the pink ball. India have previously played one pink-ball test in Australia during the 2020-21 tour, and were defeated soundly by 8 wickets after the visitors were bowled out for 36 runs in their second innings.

Australia have an amazing record in day-night tests, having won 11 out of their 12 games under the lights. Their only loss came to the West Indies earlier this year.

India v PM XI’s game turned from a 2-day affair to a 50-overs per side match

However, the scheduled game between India and Prime Minister’s XI was affected by issues as rain poured in the Australian capital of Canberra. The first day of the game, on November 30, was rained out completely. The first day of play was canceled due to severe weather, leaving both teams disappointed.

Therefore, it was decided by both teams, that weather permitting, the pink-ball game would be a 50-overs-per-side affair as India wanted to have some game time with the pink ball before the Adelaide test.

Notably, the warm-up match will be India’s last practice before the day/night test against Australia, which begins on December 6 in Adelaide.

The last time India played a day-night game was in March 2022. Hence, Rohit Sharma and co. were aiming to acclimatize themselves to the movement of the pink ball under lights and the conditions to find match-winning combinations.

India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl first. Indian bowlers had a good time despite PM XI opener Sam Konstas scoring 107 with 14 fours and one six. Jack Clayton made 40 and Hanno Jacobs added valuable runs down the order.

India bowled out Prime Minister’s XI on 240 in the first innings with Harshit Rana being the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets. Akash Deep scalped two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja contributed with one wicket apiece.

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