Team India's predicted XIs to play T20I and Test warm-up at the same time on Australia tour

On 26th October, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian squads for the upcoming Australian tour. The two-month-long series will be played across all three formats and features multiple players who will be rotating in and out of the different teams.

This presents an interesting dilemma since there’s a possibility that two separate teams will be competing at the same time. As per reports, one of the Indian team’s T20I matches is likely to clash with a four-day practice match against Australia A.

So there’s a good likelihood that team India will have to prioritize some of its players as per the formats. Keeping that in mind, here’s a list of players who can simultaneously feature in the playing XIs for the T20I team and the Test team.

1. KL Rahul – T20I, Prithvi Shaw – Test practice match

An unfortunate hamstring injury to Rohit Sharma allows Rahul to conveniently slot in as the T20I team’s premier opener-cum-wicketkeeper. The Kings XI Punjab captain has been in red-hot form in the IPL, where he has scored 595-runs from 12 innings and is a top contender for this season’s Orange Cap.

KL Rahul’s fine leadership skills have also been rewarded; Rohit’s absence has elevated Rahul to the vice-captaincy position, which can get further promoted to captaincy should Virat Kohli decide to take some time off the field.

In Rahul’s absence, likewise, the India team playing the 4-day warm-up match will have Prithvi Shaw’s hard-hitting services at the top. Shaw’s IPL form has been rather hot-and-cold. After scoring two half-centuries in his first five matches for the Delhi Capitals, the 20-year-old Mumbaikar’s form tapered off massively- even prompting the DC think-tank to drop him from the playing XI.

Some pre-match game-practice should help Shaw find some momentum ahead of the official Test series; where he is expected to retain his opening position in the playing XI.