The most-awaited Test series between India and Australia, also known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to commence from tomorrow. India are set to play their first-ever overseas pink-ball test, which makes the contest even more interesting. The Indian batsmen will be tested against the quality bowling attack of Australia with the pink Kookaburra ball under the lights. The hosts have a good experience of playing under the lights, while India have played just one Test with the pink ball so far.
While Australia are yet to announce their playing XI for the match, India have named the XI that will be taking the field tomorrow. As always, there are a few surprising names in the team sheet, resulting in a long debate by the fans regarding the team selection.
Shaw and Saha preferred over Gill and Pant:
Playing XI- Virat Kohli (C), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
is set to play his first test match on the Australia soil. It will be quite a big challenge for him, given the quality bowling attack of Australia and that too with the pink ball. He didn’t fare well in the practice games, averaging below 16 with no 50+ scores in the four outings.
Rishabh Pant, who had a decent tour last time, has been left out for the first test match. He did a sumptuous job in the second practice game, scoring a magnificent century in the second innings. Wriddhiman Saha, who doesn’t boast of having a great record in Australia, has been selected for the first clash. India would want Saha to prove his worth this time around.
Umesh Yadav is selected as the third pacer, in the absence of veteran Ishant Sharma. Umesh performed well in the first practice match, however, his overall Test record in Border-Gavaskar Trophy is far from impressive. The right-arm pacer has not been at his best in overseas tests for quite some time and India would hope that the story is not the same this time around.
Here are some funny reactions of the fans:
https://twitter.com/dhruvjha2001/status/1339135697349791744?s=20
https://twitter.com/VamosVirat/status/1339125702956707842
Prithvi Shaw vs Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood
pic.twitter.com/cLUXDiXgGr— naman (@clobberinntime) December 16, 2020
Pant to Shastri/Kohli when India are 70-7 and saha is giving strike to shami pic.twitter.com/teceoFg3hm
— Rahul (@Ittzz_Rahul) December 16, 2020
Savage from .@ESPNcricinfo https://t.co/VILzFtnPXK pic.twitter.com/3YxBsRXGxf
— Kieran (@BerbaSpinCric) December 16, 2020
Some of the most famous & accurate Master of Whisperers to ever exist. pic.twitter.com/CpDJZMFLDx
— Divyanshu (@MSDivyanshu) December 16, 2020
Team selection ?#AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/lAXKANXNMg
— Circuit Expert ? (@Being_circuit) December 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/j_dhillon7/status/1339220438350610432
No Pant in Virat Kohli’s playing XI pic.twitter.com/HxvrrCWT0r
— Dr. Gill 2022 (@ikpsgill1) December 16, 2020
Kohli doesn’t want Pant babysitting any other babies now that his own is on the way.
— Manya (@CSKian716) December 16, 2020
