Captain Rohit Sharma may miss the first or second Test in India’s upcoming five-match series against Australia due to personal reasons. His absence creates a challenge for Team India as they strategize the most effective lineup without him. Here’s a look at India’s potential strongest playing XI without the Hitman.
Opening Pair Without Rohit
The India-Australia Test series, set to be played on Australian soil, promises to be a high-stakes challenge. Rohit’s potential absence in a Test adds complexity to the selection of the team’s opening pair and overall playing XI. With this in mind, let’s look at what could be India’s best XI to take on Australia. If Rohit is unavailable for either of the first two Tests, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are the probable openers, forming a balanced left-right combination at the top.
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No. 3 and No. 4
Shubman Gill is expected to bat at No. 3, bringing stability to the lineup, while Virat Kohli will follow at No. 4. Both will be crucial in providing solidity against Australia’s formidable bowling attack. They have also a good batting record against Aussies in the previous border- Gavaskar trophy. Virat scored most of his Test centuries against Australia, while Shubman played a brilliant innings of 91 to help India win their second Border-Gavaskar Trophy against ‘The Kangaroos’.
Middle Order Stability: Nos. 5, 6, and 7
India is likely to play explosive batsman and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant at No. 5. Having performed exceptionally well on the previous Australia tour. He has also been in exceptional form in the recently concluded IND vs NZ series. Despite India’s loss, Pant scored several fifties, showcasing his batting brilliance at the No. 5 spot. At the sixth spot, India can play a big gamble and give Sarfaraz Khan a chance for the first time on Australian soil. This Young batter scored a historical 150 runs against NZ. While at the seventh spot, the team’s only spinner and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will come to bat.
Four-Pacer Strategy on Parth
Considering Australia’s pace-friendly pitches, India is likely to go with a four-pacer attack. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s lead pacer, will head the bowling unit, joined by Mohammad Siraj and Akash Deep. Bumrah, who has played a pivotal role in India’s past series victories in Australia, boasts 32 wickets in seven Tests there, with an impressive average of 21.25.
Prasidh Krishna’s Edge at Perth
Team India may consider playing Prasidh Krishna at Perth, where his height could help him extract extra bounce off the wicket. During the recent second four-day match against Australia A at the MCG, Krishna claimed six wickets, effectively using the bounce to challenge the host batters. His addition could add a unique advantage to India’s pace lineup.
Predicted Playing XI for India
- KL Rahul
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammad Siraj
- Akash Deep
- Prasidh Krishna