The Test match lovers will be salivating over this upcoming Test series between old rivals India and Australia. It is happening in India with fans involved which adds quite a lot to the narrative of the series. India and Australia, among the top Test sides in the world, will be playing four matches in the next 30 days. The history says this will be a mouth-watering contest. To add more context, there is a World Test Championship final spot to fight for. These two sides are most likely to make it to the final in England later this year and this series can feel like a curtain-raiser to that. That is why these four Tests hold much more importance. It is not just about a mere series win/loss.
India’s playing XI – Will Shubman Gill make it?
My eyes will be on the Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who after taking over captaincy from Virat Kohli last year, has led India in only two Test matches. That means Rohit has not yet felt the pressure of a big series as captain. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy becomes his first massive series as the Test captain and let’s not forget that India are eyeing a spot in the WTC final. For all the reasons above, Rohit’s captaincy will be something to watch out for in this series.
Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid’s first challenge will be to bring the right balance to the Indian side. With injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer and also Rishabh Pant (injured in a car accident) not there, India will need to make do without these certain starters and matchwinners. We also keep hearing about niggles to Mohammed Shami. Hence, it will be interesting to see how his body deals with the high intensity and extra responsibility in absence of Bumrah. India will need their most experienced Test pacer to do well, especially in the Indian conditions.Shami, fortunately, got some rest as he skipped the New Zealand series and hopefully, he will make it to the India XI for first Test this coming Thursday.
It is quite possible that we see the pitches favouring the spinners more in the Test matches as has been the case in past few series. On such abrasive tracks, I feel India are going to go with their tried and tested combination of R Ashwin, Axar Patel and comeback man Ravindra Jadeja, if he is fit enough.
When it comes to India’s batting, one cannot look away from Shubman Gill whose form in white-ball cricket has been terrific of late. He looks like a batter on purpose. When he bats, he oozes class and style. With calm head over his shoulders and a sound technique, he almost bats as per the coaching manual. With Iyer and Pant not there in the squad, it will be interesting to see what India’s top 5 looks like. In my opinion, Gill should fit in somewhere. But with KL Rahul opening the innings with Rohit, do they play Gill at No 5, where Pant used to play? This is a big question that needs quick answering.
Injury-hit Australia need the right balance
Australians have received one huge blow after the other, as far as their Test squad for India Tests is concerned. Josh Hazlewood was ruled out on Sunday (February 5). Mitchell Starc and Cameroon Green too have not totally recovered from their respective finger injuries. So, a lot of question marks over the tourist’s playing XI. I am quite curious to see which way the Aussies go from here knowing they could have a spin-friendly wicket in the first Test. I believe the nature of the pitch will have a big role in deciding their playing XI. If Nagpur is a turning wicket, you might see 22-year-old Todd Murphy, who is an off-spinner, get his debut in India. With lots of right-handers in the Indian batting lineup, he and Lyon could prove to be very effective on those surfaces. Let’s see if this new kid gets an opportunity. He is just 22 and has just played a handful of first-class games. It will be interesting to see how he goes if picked.
Australia’s batting lineup looks sorted to me. They will rely heavily on David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne at the top. I am pleased that Khawaja is standing up and saying that you guys should have picked me earlier. Steve Smith has unfinished business in India. He could not win it as captain last time and on this tour as pure batter and vice-captain, he will be eyeing big runs to lead in a different way.
India surely start as favourites, despite some big match-winners yet not part of the squad. This is because they are playing at home and beating them in their home conditions has become close to impossible for some time. At the same time, you can never underestimate those Aussies. The fact that they have lost three back-to-back series against India must make them even more hungry for a win this time.
