India v Australia, 1st Test - India Predicted XI

Team India has been on a roll in the recent times. They have been in a rampaging form and skipper Virat Kohli has emerged as the captain invincible in the home season. The last time India lost a home series was back in 2012. Their last defeat in Test cricket was also back in 2012 in the same series against England at Kolkata. Since then, they have played 20 Tests at home, winning 17 and drawing 3. The facts are startling and the visiting Australian side is wary of it.

The Kohli-led side started off the grand home season with a whitewash win over New Zealand. They then made the English side meekly surrender and followed it up with a grand win over Bangladesh in a one-off Test. Australia comes in next. The visitors surely have a lot of selection conundrums to worry about. With the new venues allotted for the series, the Aussie being skeptical is only justified. However, for the hosts, things look sorted.

They are quite clear about what they want and how they wish to see their line up on the match day. Here we have the India Predicted XI for the 1st Test of the series:

1. KL Rahul

Despite a poor Test against Bangladesh, one cannot overlook the form KL Rahul has been in the longer run. He had scored a fighting 199 against England at Chennai last December. He showed his sublime form in the T20 series against England too.

Hence, his failure at the Hyderabad Test could be seen as a one off day at the office. Knowing the nature of the Indian skipper, he will surely back young Rahul to come up good in the all important Australian Test.

2. Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay has been the one consistent performer for team India in the recent past. Vijay has scored consistently in every series of this grand home season of India. He struck a masterly ton against Bangladesh at Hyderabad to reinstate his authority as the first choice opener for the Indian side.

He had scored tons in the New Zealand and the England series prior to that as well. His consistency can definitely not be questioned. Vijay will partner Rahul in the opener role as they brace up for the much-hyped Mitchell Starc Test.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara has scripted India’s dominion in the home Tests this season. Along with Virat Kohli, he has formed a formidable middle order pair that has seen the Indian side post mammoth scores. In the recent times, Pujara has also shown glimpses of how he can shift gears too.

In the Bangladesh Test, he scored fifties in each innings to show his class. The first innings saw him score a patient 83 off 177 deliveries and the second innings witnessed a quick unbeaten 54 off mere 58 balls.

4. Virat Kohli

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli is all set for the great Australian challenge. One of the reasons for India’s success story in Test cricket is the captain himself. Kohli has been on a rampaging form in all three formats of the game. He scored his 4th double ton in the match against Bangladesh.

Now, he has the opportunity to achieve the unique distinction of scoring double tons in 5 consecutive Test series. His captaincy has been spot on too. He has been an attacking skipper which has resulted in greater yields for the side.

5. Ajinkya Rahane

Despite Karun Nair scoring a triple ton in the last match that he played, he will have to make way for Ajinkya Rahane in the Australia series too. Rahane deserves his chance to walk back into the side after being a middle order mainstay for two years. This is what the Indian skipper Kohli had remarked ahead of the Bangladesh Test.

Rahane repaid the faith shown in him and scored a vital 82 in the first innings of the match on his return. Had it not been some fielding brilliance by Mehedi Hasan on the field, Rahane would have surely gone on to make a big hundred on that day too. Well, now the Mumbai batsman must have set his eyes on the Pune Test.

6. Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha has been the first choice wicketkeeper for India in Test cricket. Time and again, many have questioned his place in the side and opined that someone like Parthiv Patel or a youngster like Rishabh Pant should have got their opportunities.

But, the Bengal wicketkeeper has silenced his critics in all possible ways. In the recent Bangladesh Test, he scored a fine century to cement his place. Prior to that, he had scored an unbeaten double ton for the Rest of India side against Gujarat in the Irani Trophy.

7. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin needs no introduction. The top-ranked Test bowler is ready for the Aussie challenge. Even before the series has commenced, there have been predictions and talks about Ashwin tormenting the visitors. He emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the home series against England and New Zealand.

In the Test against Bangladesh, when many thought that the track was not well suited for the spinners, Ashwin broke the back of the Bangladeshi line up with 4 key wickets in the second innings. He will be the man to watch out for in the series.

8. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja has carved a niche of his own in the recent past. With time, people had forgotten that Jadeja had another skill in addition to his left arm spin. He has wielded his willow to the best possible way in the recent matches. He had scored a brilliant 90 in one of the Tests during the 5-match Test series against England.

Against Bangladesh, he scored an unbeaten 60 off mere 78 deliveries in the first innings. He adds a pinch-hitting option. Talking about his bowling, he has been the ideal second fiddle to Ashwin. No wonder, now he is competing with Ashwin for the top spot in the rankings.

9. Jayant Yadav

The slowness of the wicket at Pune might come as a blessing for offie Jayant Yadav. Jayant was very impressive during his maiden series against England last year. He was one of the key performers in the lower order. His crucial contributions with the bat, including a century, saw India pile up big runs on the board.

Also, the presence of many left-handers in the Australian line up will help Jayant fancy his chances. Even skipper Virat Kohli hinted at his inclusion when he mentioned that the track at MCA Stadium is a slow and low track.

10. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav has been a revelation of his own kind for the national set up. He has been bowling with raw pace and precision with the new ball. At times, he has been unlucky to see the slip cordon drop catches off his bowling but that definitely does not take anything away from him.

Many cricket pundits have lauded his bowling and improvement over the past six months. He is also a key reverse swing component for India with the older ball. The Vidarbha pacer will give Australia a taste of their own medicine.

11. Ishant Sharma

The absence of Mohammad Shami from the squad will most likely see Ishant Sharma take the role of the second pacer in the lineup. Ishant is considered one of the most effective red ball bowlers in the Indian side. Even in the Bangladesh Test, it was Ishant who triggered the Bangladeshi batting collapse in the second innings.

Moreover, he was recently not picked in the IPL auctions. On a personal level, he will have a lot to prove to himself and definitely to others as well. Ishant Sharma gets the extra bounce due to his height that might trouble some of the visiting batsmen.