Ahead of the four-Test series against India, Cricket Australia has decided to send an advance group of eight players to the subcontinent on Thursday to get acclimatised to the conditions. The National Selection Panel, headed by chief selector John Inverarity, has also finalised the departure dates of the squad, which would travel to India in three separate groups depending on the current international commitments. Inverarity said in Melbourne today that the players in the 17-man squad will travel to India in three separate groups in an effort to find the best balance for players. The first group having Jackson Bird, Ed Cowan, MoisesHenriques, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Steve Smith travel to India on 7th February. Million dollar man, Glenn Maxwell, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for the Indian Premier League 6 at a whopping price of 1 million US Dollars, will leave for India in the second batch on February 9. The batch will also include Matthew Wade and David Warner. The remaining six players – Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Xavier Doherty, Mitchell Starc, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson – will travel on 11th February at the conclusion of the Commonwealth Bank Series against West Indies. These plans are subject to minor alterations, Inverarity said. Australia will play two warm-up games in Chennai ahead of the first Test in the same city, beginning on 22nd February.