India are looking to draw inspiration from a historic victory as they prepare for a challenging day-night Test against Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth. The match comes at a crucial moment in the multi-format series, with Australia currently holding an 8-4 lead after dominating the ODI leg.
For India, the Test represents their final chance to level the series. A victory would see the overall contest finish 8-8 on the points system, a result that would be a significant achievement in Australian conditions.
In the lead-up to the match, the Indian squad revisited one of their most memorable moments in recent years. Players and coaching staff watched highlights from India’s famous eight-wicket win over Australia at Wankhede Stadium in December 2023. That victory was historic, as it marked India’s first-ever Test win against Australia and ended a winless run that had stretched back to 1977.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar said the team wanted to reconnect with the emotions and confidence that came from that landmark victory.
“We just watched it before coming in… got those memories back and a lot of intel from there and data collected,” Muzumdar told reporters in Perth. “We will take a lot of positives out of it. I mean, that’s the first time we have beaten Australia in a Test match. But at the same time, we just have to play good cricket. We’re here to entertain and play good cricket.”
While the memories provide motivation, the conditions in Perth will present a very different challenge. The surface at the WACA is no longer as quick as it once was, but it still offers assistance for seam bowlers and can be tricky for batters, especially early in the match.
India will also head into the Test with a relatively inexperienced pace attack. Key fast bowler Renuka Singh has been rested due to workload management. In her absence, uncapped pacer Kashvee Gautam has been called into the squad, while Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Amanjot Kaur are yet to feature in Test cricket.
Despite the lack of experience, Muzumdar believes the young bowlers have the potential to rise to the occasion.
“There is a little bit of inexperience, but I think they’re capable enough,” he said. “Sayali is very experienced as far as domestic cricket is concerned. For international cricket, they’re pretty young, but very exciting talent that we have.”
The Test also marks India’s return to the longest format since their commanding ten-wicket win over South Africa women’s national cricket team in Chennai in June 2024. Women’s Tests remain rare, with India having played only 42 matches since their debut in 1976.
India have won their last three Tests, though all of them came at home. Their most recent overseas Test was in October 2021, when they battled Australia to a draw in a pink-ball match on the Gold Coast.
“We have always maintained in the group that Test matches are the real format,” Muzumdar said. “We’re really excited to play a Test match in Perth and also at Lord’s in four months.”
India began the tour strongly with a 2–1 T20I series win, a result few teams achieved in Australia. However, the hosts responded by sweeping the ODI series, ending India’s hopes of winning the multi-format trophy outright.
Still, the Indian camp remains optimistic. A strong performance in Perth could change the story of the tour.
“The tour has been really good. Not many teams have come here and won a T20 series in Australia. We are really proud of the entire squad,” Muzumdar said. “Preparations for the Test have been fantastic. Test matches are special and if we can manage to do it here it will be even more special.”
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