India’s Test XI for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth is shaping up to prioritize pace and bounce, given the conditions at Optus Stadium. With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill unavailable, KL Rahul is likely to return to the top of the order, while Devdutt Padikkal is expected at No. 3.
Dhruv Jurel is a strong contender for the No. 6 spot, having impressed with his fielding and batting in the nets. Sarfaraz Khan, another contender, had a less impressive day.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is being considered as a bowling all-rounder, capable of extending India’s batting depth to No. 8. Ravindra Jadeja is likely to take the spin bowling spot, given Australia’s left-handed batting lineup.
The pace attack is still uncertain, with Harshit Rana gaining momentum after his performance in match simulations. Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep are also in contention, while Prasidh Krishna has shown promise in the nets.
India’s XI is likely to be inexperienced, with Jurel, Reddy, Rana, Prasidh, and Padikkal having played only seven Tests combined. However, the team is banking on their potential to adapt to the challenging conditions in Perth.
