3 minute read
A look at those in line to be part of India's likely XI in the first Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval.
KEY MEMBERS OF INDIA'S TEST SQUAD
MAYNAK AGARWAL (right-handed batsman)
Age: 29
Batting average: 57.29 (11 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: 65 (2 Tests)
Will draw on memories of the 76 he scored on Test debut at the MCG in 2018. India have a stack of potential openers in their touring party but he is fully expected to perform the job in Adelaide.
PRITHVI SHAW (right-handed batsman)
Age: 21
Batting average: 55.83 (4 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: N/A (0 Tests)
Has been mentored by - and repeatedly compared to - Sachin Tendulkar. At age 18 he became the youngest Indian to make a century on Test debut.
SHUBMAN GILL (right-handed batsman)
Age: 21
Batting average: N/A (0 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: N/A (0 Tests)
A good chance of making his Test debut this summer. Named man of the series during India's under-19 World Cup triumph in 2018, boasts a first-class average of almost 70 and recently impressed teammate Pat Cummins during the IPL.
CHETESHWAR PUJARA (right-handed batsman)
Age: 32
Batting average: 48.66 (77 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: 60.07 (16 Tests)
Proved the difference during India's historic 2-1 series victory here in 2018-19. The man of the series batted for more than 22 hours across those four Tests, scoring 521 runs.
VIRAT KOHLI (right-handed batsman)
Age: 32
Batting average: 53.62 (86 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: 48.6 (19 Tests)
So much of the hype around this series revolves around India's unique captain, who is returning home after the day-night Test for the birth of his first child. An incredibly talented batsman who has scored three Test centuries at Adelaide Oval, Kohli is certain to be fired up.
AJINKYA RAHANE (right-handed batsman)
Age: 32
Batting average: 42.88 (65 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: 37.36 (13 Tests)
Will serve as stand-in skipper for the final three Tests. Holds a black belt in karate (although is notably more chilled out on the field than Kohli) and scored an impressive unbeaten ton in India's first tour game.
HANUMA VIHARI (right-handed batsman)
Age: 27
Batting average: 36.8 (9 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: 22.2 (3 Tests)
Was a makeshift opener during India's previous Test tour of Australia but will bat in the middle order this summer. Coming off a pink-ball ton at the SCG and bowls handy part-time offspin.
RISHABH PANT (wicketkeeper)
Age: 23
Batting average: 38.76 (13 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: 58.33 (4 Tests)
Locked in a selection showdown with India's other wicketkeeper in the touring party. An unforgettably vocal presence behind the stumps during 2018-19 and scored an unbeaten century in India's final tune-up for the day-night Test.
WRIDDHIMAN SAHA (wicketkeeper)
Age: 36
Batting average: 30.19 (37 Tests)
Batting average v Australia: 25.9 (7 Tests)
Has recovered from the hamstring injury that forced him to miss the IPL finals. India coach Ravi Shastri recently declared the veteran is the "best gloveman in the world".
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN (right-arm offspin)
Age: 34
Bowling average: 25.43 (71 Tests)
Bowling average v Australia: 31.89 (15 Tests)
Embarking on his fourth Test tour of Australia. Talented tweaker but almost certain to be targeted by Australia's batsmen in an effort to ensure India's quicks aren't given any respite.
UMESH YADAV (right-arm fast)
Age: 33
Bowling average: 30.47 (46 Tests)
Bowling average v Australia: 37.18 (12 Tests)
Has played eight Tests in Australia and that experience may help him claim the final spot in India's attack. It is a vital role, especially given the control that injured quick Ishant Sharma would have offered if available.
MOHAMMED SHAMI (right-arm fast)
Age: 30
Bowling average: 27.36 (49 Tests)
Bowling average v Australia: 30.83 (7 Tests)
India's best paceman during the 2015 World Cup and proved equally adept during their 2018-19 tour of Australia. Claimed 16 wickets in that Test series but just as memorable was a nasty blow to the gloves that resulted in Aaron Finch being rushed to hospital.
JASPRIT BUMRAH (right-arm fast)
Age: 27
Bowling average: 20.33 (14 Tests)
Bowling average v Australia: 17 (4 Tests)
Announced himself as a genuine superstar by claiming 21 wickets at 17 during the most recent Test series between the rivals in Australia. Unique action is a by-product of his his family home in Ahmedabad, where there was limited room in the communal area to run in while bowling.
NAVDEEP SAINI (right-arm fast)
Age: 28
Bowling average: N/A (0 Tests)
Bowling average v Australia: N/A (0 Tests)
Boasts good pace, a difficult yorker and potent bouncer but struggled with control during the one-day series. May miss out in Adelaide but likely to debut at some stage this summer.
