Cheteshwar Pujara’s Inclusion Looms as India Prepares for Australia Tour
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to unveil India’s Test squad for the upcoming tour of Australia on October 28. The inclusion of veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is a strong possibility, given his impressive performances during India’s previous two tours Down Under.
Pujara, 36, has amassed 521 runs in the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy and 271 runs in the subsequent tour. His experience of 103 Tests and his ability to anchor the innings on bouncy Australian tracks could prove invaluable for India.
Pujara’s current form also supports his case for selection. He recently scored a mammoth 234 against Chattisgarh in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure.
According to reports, Nitish Reddy will not be included in the T20I squad for the South Africa series. Instead, he has been named in the India A squad as part of the BCCI’s plan to develop him as a seam-up all-rounder.
The selection of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami will depend on his fitness and availability. India captain Rohit Sharma has indicated that they will not risk fielding an “undercooked” Shami in Australia.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep are expected to be automatic choices for the fast bowling department. Avesh Khan and Yash Dayal are likely to be included as backup seamers.
The BCCI is also considering sending India A to Australia for an intra-squad match with Team India ahead of the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. This move aims to provide the Indian players with valuable experience on Australian conditions.
