India likely to depart early ahead of T20 World Cup

Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma will have their hands full in Australia [PC: Twitter]

The Indian cricket team is likely to leave for Australia a week prior to their planned itinerary for the ICC T20 World Cup in October. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now decided to depart the full T20 squad, net bowlers, and travel reserves after the completion of the T20I series against South Africa on October 4.

The Men in Blue will depart for Australia on October 5 and are likely to play three extra warm-up matches apart from the two organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) - India versus New Zealand on (October 17) and Australia on (October 18), respectively. 

Rohit Sharma-led India begins their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

BCCI official's statement 

“We are in talks with a few teams who will play games with us besides warm-up games kept by ICC. The entire T20 World Cup squad will travel to Australia on October 5 along with Dravid and his support staff. The Indian team which will play ODIs here against South Africa will be a second-string side coached by VVS Laxman,”

India vs South Africa updates

Apart from Laxman taking over Dravid, Shikhar Dhawan is in line to captain India in ODIs against visiting South Africa.  India will play a 3-match ODI series from October 6 following the T20I series. 

India's immediate assignment against Australia, commences tonight at Mohali, in the first of three T20Is.

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