Team India performed underwhelmingly against New Zealand in Bengaluru and Pune. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and batting are under the scanner and have been heavily criticised by the former cricketers. BCCI has announced the squad for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy, where Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana are named in the team for the Australia tour.
Reports have suggested that captain Rohit Sharma might not be available for the first test match, which will be held in Perth. If Rohit cannot participate in the game, then team management has to shape a new opening pair. Yashasvi Jaiswal has a high chance to bat at the number 1 spot; with him, Abhimanyu Easwaran can take the second spot as his partner. The Bengal batter has been batting consistently throughout the domestic tournaments. Abhimanyu deserves to be in the squad and can make his debut for the national team.
Shubhman Gill, who secured his spot at number three, has to justify his talent in the soil of kangaroos. If Gill sets himself at number three, then Virat Kohli can be an automatic choice as the number four batsman. Virat has not been in superior form against New Zealand so far, struggling to find his rhythm. India will tour Australia with many young talents, and senior players like Virat Kohli must play a pivotal role. Sarfaraz Khan has got his first international century in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand and will find his place in the first XI of the Perth Test. There is no need to say a word about Rishabh Pant, who has shown some exciting form and is an automatic choice behind the wickets for the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
The Indian bowling lineup will be interesting. Jaspreet Bumrah may have to lead the pace battery, along with Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep can get their chance to hit the deck in Perth. Nitish Kumar Reddy has already shown what he can do with the bat and ball in white ball cricket; now, in Australia, he can get a chance to show his resiliency in Test cricket.
India’s probable XI for Perth Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Jaspreet Bumrah.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed.