‘It’s not looking too good right now’: Wet weather set to disrupt India’s pink-ball preparations this weekend

India’s hopes of mastering the pink ball before the second Test in Adelaide have been derailed, with wet weather set to disrupt their warm-up game.

India’s pink-ball preparations for the second Test in Adelaide have been thrown into disarray with up to 50mm of rain forecast in Canberra on Saturday for their clash with the Prime Minister’s XI side.

The two-day match this weekend would have been the perfect opportunity for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to get his eye in after he missed the first Test, while others could have built on their form ahead of the Adelaide clash that starts on December 6.

India’s last pink-ball game at the Adelaide Oval was four years ago when they were bowled out for just 36, but it looks like they won’t get valuable time in the middle at Manuka Oval with a thunderstorm also predicted on Sunday morning.

Australia embarrassed India the last time they played a pink-ball Test in Adelaide. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

“Hopefully, the rain can stay away,” PM’s XI captain Jack Edwards said.

“It’s not looking too good right now, but we’ve prepared really well in the nets. There’s an exciting feel around the group. It’s pretty young with some older guys mixed in so everyone’s excited.

“It’s an amazing opportunity, not only for the young guys but also for the experienced guys to come up against the likes of Kohli and Sharma who are the best players in the world.

“Seeing them at Parliament House was exciting for all the guys, and I’m sure over the next couple of days coming up against them will be an awesome opportunity.”

The match is also a good chance for a couple of Australian Test hopefuls, with Scott Boland in the squad for Adelaide but unlikely to come in unless there’s an injury to one of the three veteran quicks.

“I know facing him that he’s always a challenge,” Edwards said.

“I think he’s the ultimate professional and here with the pink ball under lights, he’s a challenge for anyone.

“Hopefully, he can get a couple of their top order batters out cheaply and put some dents in there ahead of the second Test in Adelaide.”

Matt Renshaw can put pressure on the Test batters with a big score in Canberra. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

There will be a few Test stars who hope Boland can dent the confidence of the Indian batters after what happened in Perth, while Matt Renshaw has the chance to make a statement and put pressure on the top order with a big score.

Renshaw last played a Test during the 2023 tour of India but is in fine form after he scored 120 for Queensland against Tasmania earlier this month.

“I think any opportunity to play against a world-class side (is great) and if you score runs then it shows you’re capable,” Edwards said.

“He’s obviously shown in the past that he’s more than capable of scoring runs at Test level, so I’m sure he’s champing at the bit for this opportunity to go out and test himself against them to put his name up in lights with some runs.”