The BCCI and the Indian team management have taken a bold and aggressive move and announced India playing XI for the first Test match against Australia of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Adelaide, a day-night affair, which begins from December 17 onwards.
In an unprecedented move, India has put pressure on the Australian team by announcing their playing XI which sees some surprise selections on basis of the two warmup games and form in previous matches as well.
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Mayank Agarwal will be partnered by Prithvi Shaw in the Adelaide Test. Shaw made 0, 19, 40, and 3 runs in the four innings of the two practice games, including a day-night affair at the SCG. He was competing for the spot with Shubman Gill, whom many experts found much more composed and suited for the Australian pitches and against the pacers of bouncy pitches.
Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Hanuma Vihari hold onto their places in the middle order, while Wriddhiman Saha edges out Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeping role. It was expected that Saha might be chosen based on his superior keeping skills, especially against the pink ball, which moves quite a bit in the air.
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Saha had shown great glove work in Eden Gardens against Bangladesh with the pink ball and though Pant proved to be a better and aggressive batter, Saha’s defensive game and safekeeping got him chosen for the D/N game.
R Ashwin is the lone spinner in the team, with Ravindra Jadeja being given some more time to get back to compose himself after the concussion. He might get some help from Hanuma Vihari and Prithvi Shaw in the spin department.
India has gone in with three pacers in Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Umesh Yadav. All three have previously played in Australia and have a wealth of experience with them dealing with pitches down under and Shami and Umesh have played with the pink ball previously against Bangladesh at home.
Here is India playing XI for the Adelaide D/N Test:
Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
