The BCCI has announced the Indian Test squad for the four-match Test series against Australia. India tour Australia for a full -length tour. The first of the four Tests will be played in Adelaide from December 17 to 21. Melbourne will host the Boxing Day Test from December 26-30.
Sydney will host the third (January 7-11) and Brisbane (January 15-19) the fourth and final Test match. In this article, we will try and find India’s predicted playing XI for the Test series against Australia.
India’s Predicted Playing XI For Test Series Against Australia:
1. KL Rahul
KL Rahul was recalled into the Test side. He last played a Test for India against West Indies in West Indies back in 2019. He has been in a rich vein of form in this IPL inching close to 600 runs in this IPL. Against Australia, he has a particularly good Test record.
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He has scored the most runs against the Aussies in his Test career so far. Rahul has scored 580 runs in nine matches including one hundred and six fifties.
Overall-30 Matches, 2006 runs @34.59, 5 centuries
vs Australia- 9 matches, 580 runs, 1 century
2. Mayank Agarwal
Agarwal made his Test debut against Australia last year. He is an established top-order batsman having continuously opened for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL for three seasons now. His aggressive intent is what will be important in the series against Australia.
2019 particularly was a good year for Agarwal scoring 973 runs including double tons against Bangladesh and South Africa in India’s home stretch.
Overall- 11 matches, 974 runs@ 57.29, 3 centuries
vs Australia- 2 matches, 195 runs, 2 fifties
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
Pujara along with Virat Kohli will be the two most important batsmen for India in the Test series against Australia. He has been the batting mainstay for the test team for nearly a decade now. He will be batting at number three followed by Virat Kohli at number four.
Pujara’s presence at the wicket will be viral in case India lose quick wickets.
Overall – 77 matches, 5840 runs @ 48.67 , 18 centuries
Against Australia- 16 matches, 1622 runs, 5 centuries
3. Virat Kohli (C)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli will bat at number four. He has been always dominant playing against Australia. He will be the same again when he takes in his favourite opponents.
Kohli has been in good form in this IPL so far scoring 424 runs in 12 matches. He would like to continue his form going when the Test series starts.
Overall- 86 matches, 7240 runs @ 53.63, 27 centuries
vs Australia- 19 matches, 1604 runs, 7 centuries
5. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane completes a formidable middle-order for Team India as they look to build the strongest playing XI for the side. He has been very underrated test players of India having played several important knocks for his side. Rahane also has played his part whenever he has played against Australia as well.
Overall- 65 matches, 4203 runs @42.89, 11 centuries
vs Australia- 13 matches, 822 runs, 1 century
6. Hanuma Vihari
Vihari has proved himself as a utility cricketer in the Indian Test squad. Having made his Test debut vs England, Hanuma has proved his potential at the Test level.
In 9 test matches, Vihari has scored close to 600 runs and will be key to India’s chances holding the guard high in testing conditions.
Overall- 9 matches, 552 runs @ 36.80. 1 century.
vs Australia 3 matches, 111 runs, no fifties/hundreds
7. Rishabh Pant
Pant has been only selected in the Indian Test squad for the Australia series. Though he has been India’s first-choice keeper off late, he will get competition from Wriddhiman Saha for his place.
Unfortunately, he faced overweight issues for which he was ignored for the other two squads. This will be the platform for Pant to put forward his point and keep his place in the playing XI.
Overall- 13 matches, 814 runs @ 38.67, 2 hundreds.
vs Australia- 4 matches, 350 runs, 1 hundred R Ashwin
R Ashwin will be one among the four bowlers in the side. He is now only playing Test cricket. He played his last Test against New Zealand in February this year. He has been absolutely phenomenal for Delhi Capitals in this IPL. His partnership along with Axar Patel has been praised by a lot of the cricket experts. Against Australia, he will be Kohli’s trump card.
Overall- 71 matches, 365 wickets, 2389 runs @ 28.11, 4 hundreds
vs Australia- 15 matches, 77 wickets, 379 runs, 0 hundred
8. Ravindra Jadeja
The left-arm spinner will partner Ashwin from the other end. Along with his ball, he adds value with the ball as well. His prowess in the field is an added bonus for the team. Together Ashwin & Jadeja will look to keep the runs in check making it easier for the pacers to make the breakthroughs.
Overall- 49 matches, 1869 runs @ 35.26, 1 hundred.
vs Australia- 10 matches, 302 runs, 56 wickets.
9. Mohammed Shami
Shami with his pace and bounce will be a lethal option for Virat Kohli in Australian conditions. He has been in good form in the ongoing IPL with 20 wickets in 12 matches so far. With conditions favouring his pace and swing, Mohammed Shami will prove to be a handful for the Australian batsmen.
Overall- 49 matches, 497 runs, 180 wickets @ 27.26
vs Australia 7 matches, 31 wickets @30.84
11. Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah has been in top form in the ongoing IPL as well. One believes, in Australia too, he will be vital for India’s sake. He has picked up 20 wickets in 12 matches so far averaging less than 17 and an economy of less than 8 runs.
In the absence of Ishant Sharma, Bumrah will have additional responsibilities and will hope to replicate his performance from the last time when India toured Australia.
Overall- 14 matches, 32 runs, 68 wickets @ 20.34
vs Australia- 4 matches, 21 wickets, @ 17.