India's Winners and Losers from Final Warm-Up Game vs. Cricket Australia XI

The quality of the opposition may not have been the strongest but India got a much-needed workout prior to the first Test against Australia on Tuesday.

The visitors scored 375 in reply to the Cricket Australia XI's first innings total of 243. They then reduced the inexperienced hosts to 83 for five as the two-day match ended in a draw.

Most of the top-order batsmen enjoyed decent times in the middle and the bowlers got some overs in their legs.

Read on to find out who impressed, who disappointed and how it could affect selection for the first Test in Adelaide.

Batsmen Impress

 In light of the tragic death of Phillip Hughes, preparations for both Australia and India prior to the first Test have been severely truncated.

Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane made the most of their opportunity against a talented but inexperienced Cricket Australia XI attack. After being given a life early on, both Vijay and Kohli cruised passed fifty before retiring.

Ajinkya Rahane followed suit with an unbeaten 56 from just 64 deliveries.

All three looked in good order ahead of the Adelaide opener.

The same can't be said for Shikhar Dhawan though. The 29-year-old's recent Test record is sketchy and he didn't boost his chances of a recall to the five-day team after a first-ball duck at the Gilderol Stadium.

Despite his spectacular recent form in the ODI game (his past three scores are 113, 79 and 91) it seems unlikely that the streaky left-hander will be trusted to open when the Test series begins.

Arguably the best batting of the match came from wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha whose 51 included eight fours.

MS Dhoni is set to rejoin the Indian touring party on Friday but remains a doubt for the first Test after suffering a hairline fracture to his right thumb.

If the skipper does miss out in Adelaide, Saha will make an excellent replacement.

Varun Aaron Stakes Test Claim

Varun Aaron has been touted by former Australian great Dean Jones in the Sydney Morning Herald as India's most dangerous player.

He enhanced that top billing by picking up four for 41 in the first innings then one for 28 in the second.

India have struggled for bowling firepower on recent overseas trips. While he may not have the menace of a Mitchell Johnson, Aaron is slippery enough to trouble top batsmen.

It looks like he's worked his way into contention for the first Test.

The rest of the attack also got a decent workout with everyone who turned their arm over picking up a wicket. After a fruitless first innings, Ishant Sharma got amongst the action in the second with a couple of cheap dismissals.

"

Ishant is fired up. Welcomes Alex Keath with two sharp bouncers and next over, gets him to edge one to Saha. CA XI 80 for 4.

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 5, 2014"

Karn Sharma impressed with his leg-spinners too, picking up four wickets in the match. Whether he'll be trusted ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin remains to be seen.

Will India be Undercooked?

Given the truncated build-up, it's perhaps understandable that India opted to field as many players as they could in this match. Fourteen of the squad batted or bowled for the tourists during the two-day encounter.

Coach Duncan Fletcher has always preferred his players to be slightly underdone but fresh, rather than overprepared and tired. This year's Indians will definitely fall into the former camp.

Matches involving more than 11 players aren't always the best way to get in shape for a Test series in Australia, as England can attest.

Recent tragic events have affected preparations for everyone. There's still a chance that the Indians will be undercooked when the Test series opens next week.

The build-up to the series opener may not have been ideal for the tourists but there were signs that they could spring a surprise Down Under this time.