Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma IN; 3 Players Out, Ashwin Returns! India's Likely XI For 2nd Test vs Australia

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma IN; 3 Players Out, Ashwin Returns! India's Likely XI For 2nd Test vs Australia (Source: AP)

Not many gave India a chance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ahead of the series, especially after the defeat to New Zealand, however, India stunned everyone with an emphatic win in the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. After being bowled out for 150 in the first innings, Indian bowlers helped the team script a memorable comeback and bowl out Australia for 104, taking a handy 46-run lead.

The second innings saw Indian batters show great resilience and plunder the Aussie bowlers, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli scoring hundreds. India declared the second innings at 487-6, setting Australia a mammoth target of 534. Australian batters had no answers to the fiery Indian bowlers as the hosts were bowled out for 238 and India registered an emphatic 295-run win.

India would be elated after the win but they will have to build a new strategy for the second Test in Adelaide. Captain Rohit Sharma was on paternity leave and didn't play the first Test while Shubman Gill was ruled out of due to injury. Rohit has joined Team India and will be back to lead the team in Adelaide. KL Rahul did well as an opener in Perth, but he is likely to be pushed down in the middle order for the second Test.

There is no clear update on Shubman Gill's injury, but there is enough time for him to regain fitness. If he returns, Dhurv Jurel might have to make way for him. India didn't play R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test, but the conditions in Adelaide will help the spinners so there is a chance Gambhir might bring R Ashwin in the playing XI. India would ideally want to play four pacers, so Washington Sundar could make way. Gambhir preferred Sundar given his superior batting skills, but the conditions in Adelaide might suit Ashwin more. Also, with Kohli, Rohit, and Jaiswal getting runs, India's batting looks stronger now.

India's Likely XI For 2nd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Reddy, R Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah

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