IND v AUS 2023: Harbhajan Singh unveils his Team India playing XI for 1st Test; omits KL Rahul

The first Test will be played in Nagpur from Feb 9 onwards.

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has revealed his Indian XI for the first Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia in Nagpur which begins on February 9, 2023.

India and Australia are set to lock horns in an important series that will have major World Test Championship implications and the lineup for both teams have been a hot topic of discussion in recent days.

Most recently, Dinesh Karthik unveiled his preferred India playing Xi for the first Test, and now his former India teammate Harbhajan Singh has done the same.

IND v AUS 2023: Dinesh Karthik reveals his India XI for 1st Test; leaves out Shubman Gill

He named Shubman Gill as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner instead of KL Rahul. Then Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli have been chosen. For the no.5 spot, many speculated one of Rahul or Gill might play, but Harbhajan Singh threw a spanner in plans and opt for Suryakumar Yadav.

He also picked KS Bharat as the wicketkeeper over Ishan Kishan, but he was placed below Ravindra Jadeja in the batting order. Apart from Jadeja, Harbhajan chose R Ashwin and Akshar Patel as the spinners on a track that is likely to spin.

Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj were the two pacers chosen by Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan Singh’s India XI for the 1^st Test:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat, Ravi Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj