Uncertainty over regular captain Rohit Sharma’s unavailability for the Perth Test due to family commitments and Shubman Gill’s unfortunate thumb injury left the Indian team management with a selection headache ahead of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia. Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead India in Rohit’s absence and KL Rahul is set to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Abhimanyu Easwaran and Devdutt Padikkal retained as backup options, the latter a strong contender for the No. 3 spot.
BUMRAH TO LEAD IN ROHIT’s ABSENCE
India will be without skipper Rohit Sharma for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Rohit, who welcomed his second child with wife Ritika Sajdeh on Friday, will join the squad ahead of the second Test in Adelaide, a pink-ball game beginning December 6. In his absence, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will step in as captain in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as previously confirmed by head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Rohit had informed the BCCI and team management in advance about his potential unavailability for the series opener and did not travel with the Indian squad for the five-match series. Bumrah known for his incisive bowling, will lead a team grappling with multiple absences, including Shubman Gill due to a thumb injury. Meanwhile, KL Rahul, who sustained an elbow blow during an intra-squad match, has recovered and is set to open the batting, adding a glimmer of stability to India’s top order.
SHUBMAN OUT, TWO SPOTS VACANT
Shubman Gill is set to miss the first Test in Perth, starting November 22, after fracturing his left thumb during an intra-squad match at the WACA. While the injury is reported to be minor, Gill’s availability for the second Test in Adelaide, beginning December 6, remains uncertain. His absence, coupled with skipper Rohit Sharma’s unavailability for the series opener, forces India to rethink their top-order combination, with Yashasvi Jaiswal likely to partner KL Rahul and a new No. 3 yet to be finalized.
India faces a selection conundrum ahead of the first Test in Perth, with Shubman Gill’s thumb injury and Rohit Sharma’s absence creating two vacancies at the top of the order. Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to retain one opening spot, leaving KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran as the frontrunners to fill the other. Rahul, having recovered from an elbow injury sustained in a practice game, looks likely to open, but if Easwaran is chosen instead, Rahul could slot in at No. 3. Meanwhile, Devdutt Padikkal, a reserve batter from the shadow tour, remains with the squad as additional cover.
RAHUL FIT FOR PERTH TEST
KL Rahul has provided a timely boost to India’s plans ahead of the first Test against Australia in Perth, dispelling fitness concerns with an extended net session on Sunday. Having suffered an elbow blow during an intra-squad game on Friday, Rahul’s availability comes as a relief after Shubman Gill was ruled out with a thumb fracture. The team management will likely pair the experienced Rahul with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, filling the gap left by skipper Rohit Sharma, who will join the squad only for the second Test in Adelaide.
Rahul looked comfortable during his three-hour net session, batting without discomfort and participating fully in drills. Speaking in a video shared by the BCCI, he expressed confidence in his readiness. “I had a bad hit on Day 1 of the game. Feeling good today and getting ready for the first game. I’m excited and looking forward to this series,” said Rahul. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had earlier hinted at Rahul’s promotion up the order during the pre-tour press conference, further solidifying his position as the preferred opener in Rohit’s absence.
Team physio Kamlesh Jain confirmed Rahul’s positive response to treatment, ensuring his availability for the Perth Test starting November 22. Rahul’s recovery stabilizes the opening combination and brings crucial experience to India’s top order as they prepare for a challenging series opener on pace-friendly Australian tracks.
OPENING AND NO.3?
India faces key decisions at the top of the order for the first Test against Australia, with KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Devdutt Padikkal in the mix. Rahul, who opened in both a four-day game against Australia A and a simulated training match at the WACA, is a strong contender despite an elbow injury sustained in practice. After being struck by a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna on Friday, Rahul returned to the nets on Sunday and is expected to be ready.
Abhimanyu Easwaran, fresh from an impressive domestic season with four consecutive centuries, has struggled to replicate his form in Australian conditions, scoring 0, 17, 7, and 12 against Australia A. His vulnerability to pace raises questions about his readiness. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Padikkal could slot in at No. 3 for the opening Test. The left-hander, who scored a promising 65 on debut against England earlier this year, had a subdued series against Australia A, managing scores of 36, 88, 26, and 1. Despite this, Padikkal offers a left-right combination and stability in the middle order, making him a potential choice for the pivotal role.
India could also consider opening with Abhimanyu Easwaran, despite his underwhelming numbers in the A games on the Australian tour. Easwaran, however, showed promise by spending extended periods at the crease during simulation games at the WACA, which might work in his favor. If Easwaran is entrusted with the opening slot alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, it would allow KL Rahul to bat at No. 3, providing experience and stability to the pivotal position in the batting order.
INDIA WOULDN’T WANT TO DISTURB VIRAT’s POSITION
Virat Kohli’s performances in red-ball cricket have been underwhelming, evidenced by a modest average of 22.72, with only 6 Tests played. Kohli’s struggle was particularly evident in the recent home series against New Zealand, where he failed to score a century and managed less than 100 runs across the three-match series. His inconsistency has led to concerns, with some experts questioning his place in the Test lineup. However, despite these recent challenges, Kohli remains an integral part of India’s batting order, given his immense experience and past successes.
As India prepares for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Kohli’s struggles, particularly against short-pitched bowling, have been highlighted. During a recent three-day simulation game, Kohli was dismissed cheaply for just 15 runs in his first innings, and while he remained unbeaten on 30 in his second innings, his discomfort against short-pitched deliveries raised concerns. These performances, coupled with his underperformance in the home series against New Zealand, have added pressure on the star batsman, but India would still be reluctant to move him from his established position at No. 4. The team management would prefer to offer Kohli the stability of his preferred batting spot, hoping that this consistency will help him regain form.
Disturbing Kohli’s position in the batting order could further undermine his confidence, which is already fragile after a string of low scores. The No. 4 spot has been Kohli’s haven for years, and shifting him to a different position could have unintended psychological consequences, disrupting his rhythm even more. Given the importance of his experience in the middle order, especially in high-stakes Tests like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian team would likely choose to persist with Kohli at No. 4, giving him the best chance to rediscover his form without the added pressure of adjusting to a new batting position.
DHRUV OR SARFARAZ AT NO.6
Dhruv Jurel has been making a strong case for inclusion in India’s playing XI for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Shubman Gill ruled out due to a thumb injury and KL Rahul’s fitness still uncertain, Jurel’s chances are looking bright. The wicketkeeper-batsman recently impressed in India A’s second match against Australia A, where he top-scored in both innings with 80 off 186 balls in the first and 68 off 122 in the second. Despite India A’s loss, Jurel’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure stood out, highlighting his readiness for a bigger challenge.
Earlier this year, Jurel showcased his potential during his Test debut against England, scoring 90 in the first innings and guiding India to victory with an unbeaten 39. His performances have steadily built his reputation as a player capable of handling big moments, and with the first Test against Australia fast approaching, his strong form has left fans hopeful for his inclusion.
With the batting lineup in flux, Jurel could potentially be slotted into the No. 6 position, ahead of Sarfaraz Khan, who has struggled with short-pitched deliveries in recent nets at WACA. Sarfaraz’s difficulty in facing the short ball, coupled with his frustration after getting out to a cut shot, has raised questions about his preparedness for the demanding Australian conditions. In contrast, Jurel’s recent form and temperament make him a strong contender for the spot, making him a likely option for India’s middle order in the first Test.
NITISH LIKELY TO MAKE DEBUT ON BOUNCY PERTH PITCH
Perth’s Optus Stadium curator has confirmed that the pitch for the opening Test has been prepared to deliver “good bounce and pace,” in line with Perth’s reputation for fiery, fast surfaces. “We’re setting ourselves up for really good pace, really good bounce, and really good carry,” McDonald told ESPNcricinfo, noting that the pitch will be left with around 10 millimeters of live grass. This extra grass is intended to enhance speed, making life tough for batsmen and providing Australia’s pace attack-led by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc-with the ideal surface.
The pitch is set to mirror these conditions, and both teams’ fast-bowling units will be looking to exploit the bounce. “Both bowling units were pretty rapid last year, and I’m hoping for much the same this year,” McDonald said. While he believes skilled batsmen can capitalize on the conditions, he’s confident that the pace and live grass will keep both sides on edge.
All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to earn his maiden Test cap for India in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in Perth on Friday. The Indian team management is likely to field him as the fourth seamer, with Perth’s Optus Stadium expected to offer bounce and carry, making Reddy an ideal fit to strengthen the fast bowling department.
Bumrah, the vice-captain, will lead the team in Rohit Sharma’s absence, while Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Aakash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna complete the fast-bowling lineup. With Hardik Pandya absent from the Test squad, Reddy is the sole pace-bowling all-rounder available for the five-match series, while Shardul Thakur, a former regular on India’s Australian tours, has fallen down the selection order.
During the pre-departure press conference, coach Gautam Gambhir expressed confidence in Reddy’s ability, stating, “The decision to pick Reddy ahead of Shardul is about looking to the future. We’ve chosen the best squad, and we all know how talented Nitish is. If given the opportunity, he will deliver for us.”
India’s Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah (C), Mohammed Siraj.
