The Border-Gavaskar trophy begins in less than a week’s time and both the teams have hit the ground for training. It will be a crucial series for India as a berth in the ICC World test championship Final is up for grabs. Their opponents have already reached the final scheduled to take place during the summers.
Both the teams will square off against each other for the first time in Red ball cricket since 2021. The Men in Blues came out victorious in the last meeting with the baggy greens and their rivalry is set to have a new chapter ready to be included.
For preparations, the Indian team has called up 2 indigenous spinners – Jayant Yadav and Pulkit Narang as Net bowlers. Rohit Sharma’s side are currently training at Nagpur, where the first test will be played. The inclusion of these 2 spinners in the squad makes the spinner count to 6 bowlers.
Jayant Yadav and Pulkit Narang will join Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Sai Kishore and Saurabh Kumar. Yadav has previously represented India and his addition will ensure the hosts are doing extra practice to curb threats from Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar.
The Indian cricket team is on the rise after back to back ODI and T20 series wins in 2023 and head coach Rahul Dravid will hope his men can replicate the same form against the Aussies from February 9 onwards. Plenty more will be on offer but a lot depends upon spinners from both the teams to put up efficient performances.
Below is the India squad for the first two Tests –
Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
