PHOTOS: Team India gets cracking Down Under

IMAGE: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will lead India in the five ODIs and three T20Is in Australia, goes through a fitness drill during the team's first training session in Perth on Thursday. Photograph: BCCI

The Indian team, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, got down to business with their first training session in Perth, ahead of the five One-Day International and three T20I series Down Under.

It is a crucial series for the Men in Blue as they prepare for the T20 World Cup, which is being staged in India in March-April.

IMAGE: Pacer Mohammed Shami returns to competitive cricket after nine months following an injury. Photograph: BCCI

Dhoni and his team arrived in Perth on Wednesday.

“Touch Down Australia. Great place to start 2016. Absolutely love the vibe here. #PositiveVibes,” Virat Kohli tweeted after reaching Australia.

IMAGE: All-rounder Rishi Dhawan (left) and debutant left-arm pacer Barinder Sran await their chance in the nets. Photograph: BCCI

The Indians take on a second string Western Australia XI in a T20 warm-up match at the WACA ground in Perth on Friday.

A day later, the team will play a 50-over match against the same opposition.

India dropped Suresh Raina for the series, while youngsters like Gurkeerat Mann, Rishi Dhawan, Manish Pandey and Barinder Sran were included for the ODIs.

Dhoni has indicated that Mann or Pandey will replace Raina and get a chance to prove their worth.

'One of them (Mann or Pandey) will feature in the batting order because those are the two batsmen who are there.

'Also, as I said, No. 6 and 7 is the most difficult place for any batter to come if you are making your debut. It is one place where not many have been successful.

'If you see the past, we have tried almost everyone. Rohit (Sharma), (Ajinkya) Rahane, Virat (Kohli) played at that number but only few individuals (have done well),' said Dhoni in Mumbai, on the eve of the team’s departure for Australia.

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