Team India starts their Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign on November 22, 2024. The first Test match of the series will be played at the Optus Stadium, Perth. The Indian team which is considered nothing less than might in every format of the game is coming off a 3-0 home Test series defeat against New Zealand. India’s loss to New Zealand was shocking on every parameter and the onus now falls upon the leadership group, which also includes the coaches to earn a redemption for India that will be remembered for ages to come.
Australia, who have been desperate to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have been pretty much immaculate with how they have planned their fixtures and have ensured that the Indians start the series on the backfoot. Australia are hosting their arch-rivals India at Perth and Adelaide for the first two Test matches. Australians have never lost a Test match at the Optus Stadium and as far as their record in Pink ball Test matches goes, they have been nothing but invincible. Indian fans still remember the 36 all-out, don’t they? Team India, under the careful supervision and watchful eyes of Gautam Gambhir has a herculean task ahead of them.
After the happenings of the India vs New Zealand series, Australia started as sheer favourites but India will relish the challenge that they have at their disposal. Much to their misfortune though, India will start without their regular Test skipper Rohit Sharma who stayed back in India due to the birth of his second child. But that is not where India’s woes end, their number three, Shubman Gill too is doubtful to play the series opener due to his thumb injury. If Gill ends up not playing the first Test match, then India have a huge problem. They’ll have to slot in somebody who doesn’t have the expertise to play at the top.
In case Shubman Gill misses out, here’s how India’s XI might look
- KL Rahul
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Virat Kohli
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Dhruv Jurel
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
- Jasprit Bumrah ©
- Akash Deep
- Mohammed Siraj
Also Read: ‘He’ll Go Really Well’: Matthew Hayden Advocates for India Pace Bowler to Fill Mohammad Shami’s Role
On the flip side, here’s how India’s XI might look with Shubman Gill in it
- KL Rahul
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Dhruv Jurel
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
- Jasprit Bumrah ©
- Akash Deep
- Mohammed Siraj
India are the defending champions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and they’ll look to do everything in their power to defend it. But for India, there is more than a series win. India will also eye a berth in the World Test Championship finals, but that won’t be possible if they don’t defeat the Aussies 4-0.
Also Read: ‘We’ll Take A Call’: Morne Morkel Discards Vague Theories On India’s XI With Official Update On Gill
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