Shubman Gill Out, No Rohit Sharma, 2 Debutants In: India's Likely XI For 1st Test vs Australia

India are likely to be without Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in Perth |courtesy- AP/ X (@Shubman Gill)

KEY HIGHLIGHTS India will face Australia in the first Test from Friday

India are set to be without Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill

Ravichandran Ashwin is set to miss out

The Indian cricket team will take the field against Australia from November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth as they wim to win the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) trophy for the fifth time in a row. Ahead of the series opener, the Indian cricket team has been having a head selection headache on the back of a historic 3-0 defeat against New Zealand at home.

While Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed the birth of his second child on Friday (November 15), he is unlikely to play the first Test of the five-match series. Rohit is yet to travel to Australia and an update on his return is still awaited. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team in Perth in the 37-year-old's absence.

India were hit with a major blow in the intra-squad match simulation as star batter Shubman Gill suffered a thumb fracture while fielding. The 25-year-old will not be fit for the first Test leaving the team with a major dilemma in the top order which was already a spot of bother for the team in Rohit's absence.

While KL Rahul was all set to open the batting, the 32-year is now set to take the number three spot in Gill's absence. Abhimanyu Easwaran should receive a long-awaited Test debut and open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal .

Virat Kohli will continue batting at number four, with Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team management desperately hoping the 36-year-old can rewind the clock in Australia and regain form. Rishabh Pant 's status as India's first-choice wicketkeeper batter and number five batter remains unquestionable.

Dhruv Jurel is set to get the nod over Sarfaraz Khan for the one remaining middle-order spot and play as a specialist batter following his impressive performance in the second unofficial Test between India-A and Australia-A at the MCG.

The fast and bouncy conditions in Perth will allow the team to field just one spinner, which means Ravindra Jadeja will get the nod over Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, as has been the norm in overseas Tests for the last few years.

India are set to go with a four-man pace attack, with skipper Bumrah as well as Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep's selection a no-brainer. The fourth pacer selection is a tricky call for the visitors, with the team also looking for a handy batter at number eight.

The call is set to be a direct shootout between the uncapped duo of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana. While Nitish is a genuine all-rounder, Harshit has a first-class average of 42.63 with the bat. The latter's superior bowling ability could see him get the nod.

India Likely XI For 1st Test vs Australia: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

Click here to read article