After losing test series in England and South Africa, Team India will look forward to win the maiden test series in Australia under the leadership of Virat Kohli. The visitors are coming on back of some impressive performance with the bat in the practise game against Cricket Australia XI but giving away 500+ runs will get some eyebrows on the much hyped Indian bowling attack.
India’s playing XI looks more than uncertain with the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in bowling and the ousted of teen sensation Prithvi Shaw following an ankle injury.
Here’s Digitalsporty’s predicted India’s playing XI for the first test
Openers: KL Rahul and Murali Vijay
Murali Vijay completed 26 runs off the last over to complete his ton in the practise game which ensures a place for him in the team at the start of the innings. Ousted from the England test series was a sign that selectors won’t show any faith in him in the future but his form in the English county gave another reason to the selectors to pick the test specialist in the squad.
Prithvi Shaw was expected to open with Vijay but his ankle injury has opened the door for other opener KL Rahul. The Karnataka batsman showed some form in the second innings of practise game that is a happening sign for the team management.
Don’t be surprised if Rohit Sharma makes to the opening slot in the team. Our correspondent in Adelaide reports how coach Ravi Shastri is making Rohit Sharma face the fast bowlers in the nets. With middle order almost intact, team management may show faith in Rohit and will hope that his test career take a turn around like his ODI career, when he opened the batting in 2013 Champions trophy alongside Shikhar Dhawan.
Middle-Order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk)
Cheteshwar Pujara will look forward to start the series on a high so he can be the go to man for India throughout the Australian summer. He will be accompanied by Virat Kohli at number four who will hold the key to Indian batting. The Indian captain slammed a half century in the practise game against CA XI which sets it up nicely for the test series.
Vice captain Ajinkya Rahane will have the responsibility of handling the team if wickets tumble at the start and he will take the number five spot. Rishabh Pant will keep the wickets and team management will hope that his aggressive style of play changes the complexion of the games.
All-rounder: Ravindra Jadeja
Team management will look to strengthen the batting line-up with the presence of Ravindra Jadeja. The Saurashtra all-rounder was conserved for the practise game against Cricket Australia XI where R. Ashwin was amongst the wickets. However, Jadeja’s performance in last test against England created huge impact and considering his all-round abilities, it looks certain that he will make it to the team.
Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Shami was the stand out performer for India in the practise game and he will lead the Indian attack in the first test alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Experienced Ishant Sharma will hope to bring back the turmoils he created in Australia in 2008 and create a huge impact in almost his last tour down under.
Jasprit Bumrah bowled just one over in the practise game but will start as a lethal weapon for India in the first test.
