India fans were not happy with the team's arrangements during day one of the one-off Test against Australia on Friday (March 6).
No debut caps, repurposed jerseys for India in Australia Test
The one-off day-night Test between the sides began at the WACA on Friday, with Australia winning the toss and electing to field in Alyssa Healy's farewell Test.
Much of the attention, however, went to a couple of unusual sights on the field. For starters, India's four debutants on the day – Pratika Rawal, Kashvee Gautam, Sayali Satghare and Kranti Gaud – were all handed floppy hats at the start of play, rather than caps, as is the norm.
India's last Test debutant, Richa Ghosh, had been presented with the standard, dark blue Indian Test cap at the Wankhede Stadium in 2023.
Even apart from the debutants, India's previously capped players sported their light blue caps on the field, usually worn in limited-overs matches, rather than the deep blue of the Test cap. This did not escape the attention of fans online.
When all-rounder Gautam came out to bat, it was also noted that she did not have her own jersey; instead, she wore batter Harleen Deol's, with a piece of tape stuck over the name on the back of the shirt. There may have been logistical challenges here, with Gautam having been a late replacement in the squad for Renuka Singh Thakur.
Curiously, this is not even the first Indian team in Australia this week to run into kit trouble; just days before their AFC Women's Asia Cup opener, India's football team were sent the wrong kits by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Instead of receiving their own jerseys, those manufactured for age-group teams were sent to them.
Australia take upper hand at the WACA
Meanwhile, the on-field action was dominated by Australia. Debutant Lucy Hamilton made the breakthrough with a cracking delivery to remove Smriti Mandhana, before Annabel Sutherland took over, picking up 4-46 to help skittle India for 198. Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored with 52, while Gautam made an unbeaten 34 from No.9.
Australia ended day one on 96-3, before taking the game by the scruff of the neck on the morning of day two. Sutherland and Ellyse Perry's 128-run fourth-wicket stand put them within 12 runs of India's score before Perry departed for 76, having become Australia's leading run-scorer in women's Test cricket by then.
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