India furious over standard of Cricket Australia XI

India is privately seething over the standard of opposition served up in their tour game against CA XI, demanding the fixture be stripped of its first-class status so they can field 14 players.

Virat Kohli may have to cool his heels in the SCG dressing-room for a while.

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India face the prospect of splashing out $25,000 only to see it literally washed down the drain as dark clouds gather over the SCG.

Meteorologists correctly predicted Sydney would be lashed by torrential on Wednesday, with a delayed start to the four-day tour match all but certain.

India is understood to be blowing up behind closed doors about the weak CA XI team Cricket Australia has served up for them as practice, and have demanded the game be stripped of its first-class status so they can field 14 players.

Virat Kohli may have to cool his heels in the SCG dressing-room for a while.

Not only is the wild weather and standard of opposition a massive blow to India’s preparations to face Australia in the first Test in Adelaide next week, but to add insult to injury, the cricketing powerhouse may also take a cheeky hit in the back pocket as well.

India lobbied hard to change the tour match against the Cricket Australia XI from a three-day fixture starting Thursday to a proper four-day game, beginning a day earlier.

However, to make the late change happen, early discussions with CA centred around the BCCI footing the bill for the extra day of ground hire.

It’s understood costs associated with putting on a match at the SCG, such as employing security and catering requirements, adds up to about $25,000 a day.

Adding to India’s frustrations would be the fact Cricket Australia has picked a particularly underwhelming touring side to face them with the majority unknown youngsters who can’t make their Sheffield Shield sides and have played less than five first-class matches a pop.

India might well ask, what are they paying for?

Young autograph hunters might be in for a field day in Sydney on Wednesday.

That is loose change for the cashed-up BCCI, but they are not an outfit that takes kindly to having their preparations stuffed around.

Back in 2011-12 India threatened to walk out on a practice game in Canberra because there was rain forecast.

Cricket Australia XI captain Sam Whiteman is hoping his unheralded team of rookies can join forces with mother nature in “spoiling” India’s preparations.

“For us to play the world No.1 Test side is a huge opportunity,” Whiteman said.

“It would be awesome (to give them a run for their money), that’s the aim.

“The wicket is looking a tinge of green out there so pressure is going to be on. They’re all going to expect to pile on the runs and we’re going to try and stop them in their tracks.

D'Arcy Short gets a big chance to impress against India - weather permitting.

“The idea is to challenge the Indians and spoil their preparations a bit.”

Explosive Aussie T20 opener D’Arcy Short will bat in the top three for the CA XI and Whiteman is giving his West Australian teammate licence to smash from ball one.

Short made 257 for WA in a 50-over game this summer and will launch himself at India’s bowlers in a bid to throw them off their rhythm.

“If you’ve got D’Arcy, he’s one of those guys who can score a hundred in a session,” Whiteman said.

“It’s hard as a fielding side if he gets on top and there’s no reason why he can’t do that this week.”

Whiteman made it clear the CA XI underdogs will be going hard at Indian master Virat Kohli, making him their prime target.

“It’d be pretty cool sitting around the barbie at Christmas being able to drop that,” he said.

“Any Indian wicket would be a prized scalp.”

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Originally published as India furious over standard of Cricket Australia XI