Battered at home, India could have used a little more time to adjust to Australian conditions had they reached Down Under early. More so, as the intra-squad game between Team India and India A, originally scheduled for next week, has been cancelled.

But, the squad would be leaving for Australia in two batches next Sunday and Monday. By the time the contingent settles down, not even a fortnight will remain for the first Test at the Perth Stadium, beginning on November 22.

The intra-squad game was supposed to be at the Waca in Perth from November 15-17. With that no longer happening, the Indian team management will have its task cut out in terms of diligent planning and chalking out match simulations going into the series opener in Perth.

Two players are, however, landing in Australia early.

KL Rahul and keeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel left on Monday night to be available for selection in the second four-day game between India A and Australia A, starting on Thursday at the MCG. Both players haven’t had much game time of late, with Jurel’s last competitive appearance being the Irani Cup clash early last month.

For Rahul, he had to make way for young Sarfaraz Khan following a disappointing outing in the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru.

Whether both Rahul and Jurel will be a part of the XI for the second ‘A’ tour game remains to be seen, though it has been learnt that the team management wants the senior player to get “quality match practice” before the Australia series begins. So, does this also mean Rahul stands a fair chance of regaining his place in the XI?

“If KL does well in this ‘A’ game, it goes without saying that he will be a contender for a place in the XI for Perth,” a BCCI official told The Telegraph on Monday. “His performance in overseas Tests (seven centuries abroad out of eight so far) aside, he’s a better player of short-pitched stuff and is obviously more experienced too, which includes dealing with tracks having extra pace and bounce.

“In other words, this Australia tour is a crucial one for Rahul and it’s like being given one more chance to remain in contention and ensuring the current scenario doesn’t become too difficult for him,” the Board official explained.

Sarfaraz, who was preferred over Rahul in the second and third Tests against New Zealand, after his 150 in the second innings at the Chinnaswamy, managed only 21 in the four innings in Pune and Mumbai. His shot selection, too, has come under scrutiny given the manner of his dismissal in the fourth innings at the Wankhede.

The recent uninspiring numbers of Rahul notwithstanding, he was the only batsman to offer some resistance in testing conditions in last year’s Boxing Day Test against South Africa at the Centurion. India lost the game by an innings and 32 runs but Rahul, batting at No. 6, made a 137-ball 101.

“You never know, he might as well get to open the innings if Rohit is absent in Perth, though Abhimanyu Easwaran is the reserve opener,” the Board official added.

Easwaran managed scores of only 7 and 12 in the first game against Australia A in Mackay. It will be interesting to see if India back him for Perth.