India have announced that they will play XI for the first Test against Australia starting Thursday in Adelaide. The Cricket Control Board in India (BCCI) tweeted the XI player which included Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal, who will likely open the innings, R Ashwin as the sole roulette specialist, and Umesh Yadav’s rhythm trio, Mohammed Shami . and Jasprit Bumrah in addition to the usual suspects. Wriddhiman Saha was chosen ahead of Rishabh Pant as the goalkeeper.
UPDATE: Here it is #TeamIndiaplays against XI in Border-Gavaskar’s first round against Australia starting tomorrow in Adelaide. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/WbVRWrhqwi
– BCCI (@BCCI) December 16, 2020
India XI for the first test: Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (week), Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
Cheteshwar Pujara, captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane occupy their usual positions of three, four and five respectively, while Hanuma Vihari was chosen as the sixth batter.
India has gone with experience on the bowling front with the rhythm troika of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
Mayank and Shaw were chosen as designated starters even as Shubman Gill, who hit half a century in the pink ball warm-up game, has to wait for his Test debut.
Also, there was no place for Pant, who had scored a cheery 73 ball 103 outside in the same warm-up game in Sydney.
Promoted
The first test, which begins Thursday at the Adelaide Oval, will be a day and night event. Skipper Kohli will go home after the first test on paternity leave and Rahane will take over as captain from the second game onwards.
The remaining three events will be played in Melbourne (December 26-30), Sydney (January 7-11) and Brisbane (January 15-19).
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