Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023: India's Predicted Playing XI

India are all set to lock horns with Australia in the four-match Test series (Border-Gavaskar Trophy), starting February 9. The last time when both heavyweights clashed in the longest format of the game in India was back in 2017 and it was the Men in Blue who stood tall, clinching the series 2-1.

India announced the squad for the first two Tests against the Aussies on January 13. Ishan Kishan has been handed his maiden Test call-up and Suryakumar Yadav has also made the cut. India’s 17-member squad is studded with match-winners and it will be quite interesting to see the names who find a place in the starting XI.

Here is India's Predicted Playing XI:

1. Rohit Sharma (c)

Rohit Sharma is one of the finest opening batters that Indian cricket has produced. The 50-over format has been his happy hunting ground, where he has amassed 9554 runs in 237 matches at a strike rate of 48.74. The veteran batter has shown his batting might in the Test arena as well and scored 3137 runs in 45 games at an average of 46.13.

Rohit battled with a lot of injuries in 2022 and thus, played only two Tests, where he scored only 90 runs at an average of 30.00. Though the 35-year-old is short of match practice in red-ball cricket, he has the caliber to thrive against Australia. He will be counted upon to provide India with solid starts.

Besides Rohit’s batting prowess, he is a phenomenal leader and has proven his captaincy credentials in IPL and also the international arena. However, it will be the first time the Nagpur-born will captain the Indian Test side against a team as strong as Australia and the onus will be on him to guide the Men in Blue to a series triumph.