After a humiliating 0-3 defeat in the Test series against New Zealand at home, the Indian cricket team will now take on the Australian team in a 5-match Test series in Australia. Before the start of the New Zealand series, India was comfortably at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) table, but now making it to the final seems difficult. For India to make it to the final without depending on other results, the team will have to defeat Australia by a margin of 5-0, 4-0, or 4-1.
The 1st Test begins on 22nd November, while the tour is scheduled to finish on 7th January.
Team India’s Squad for Test Series in Australia
The BCCI has announced an 18-man squad for the Australia Test series, starting on 22nd November. Rohit Sharma will lead the team, while Jasprit Bumrah will be the vice-captain for the tour. The following is a complete Indian squad for the 5-match Test series against Australia:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Jasprit Bumrah (VC)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul
- Rishabh Pant
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Dhruv Jurel
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
- Prasidh Krishna
- Harshit Rana
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
Indian Players to Watch Out For
The following are key Indian players who need to perform if India is to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy:
1. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill is one of the key batters for the Indian team. He can come in at 3 and take the attack to the opposition. He did not have a great series against New Zealand recently but showed his class with a 90-run innings in the third Test.
Subman Gill has experience playing in Australia, and he needs to take on the Australian bowlers if India is to put big runs on the board.
2. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batter who seemed comfortable in the Test series against New Zealand. Even the great Sachin Tendulkar praised his footwork and the ability to put opposition bowlers under pressure.
The memory of the Gabba Test will be fresh in the minds of Australian players, and they know what damage Rishabh Pant can cause. Rishabh was the leading run scorer in the New Zealand Test series, and if he continues the same form, Australian players will be left scratching their heads.
3. Jasprit Bumrah
The leader of the Indian bowling attack and vice-captain of the team, Jasprit Bumrah, will have to be at his best to take India over the line against Australia. He played only two tests against New Zealand and seemed in a certain rhythm. Jasprit Bumrah impacted the last Australian tour when India won the four-match Test series 2-1.
4. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been struggling to score runs, but everyone knows his solid record in Tests in Australia. “Form is temporary, class is permanent,” we know this suits Virat Kohli, as he can raise his game and put the Australian bowlers under pressure. A successful tour for Virat would mean India has a great chance to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
5. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Known for his aggressive batting style, Yashasvi Jaiswal has shown his class and the ability to score quickly in the past. If Yashasvi Jaiswal can give those quick and solid starts in Australia, the middle-order batters can build on that foundation and put Australia on the back foot. This is Jaiswal’s first Australian tour, and the Indian fans will hope he settles down quickly and has a big impact on the series.
Apart from the 5 players above, young players like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Abhimanyu Easwaran can also make an impact if given the chance.
Final Thoughts
Although Team India has won the Test series in Australia on two previous occasions, this time, considering the form of many Indian batters, it will be tougher. Stalwarts like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Mohammed Shami are missing from the squad, and in such a situation, experienced players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah will have to put their hands up.
The series is expected to be close and is also vital for India to make it to the WTC final.