All-Rounder Ravindra Jadeja also returns from injury
The wait is over! The Border-Gavaskar trophy has begun and Australia have won the toss and asked the hosts to bowl first. The visitors lost 2 early wickets within the first two overs as the baggy greens lost their lefty opening pair of Usman Khawaja and David Warner.
Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj picked up early scalps as the latter struck first by removing Khawaja (lbw) and Shami bowled the dangerous David Warner out for the scores of 1. But before all of the took place, India’s shining star in white ball cricket Surya Kumar Yadav and wicket keeper KS Bharat received their debut Test cap for India.
Test debuts for @surya_14kumar & @KonaBharat 👏 👏
The grin on the faces of their family members says it all 😊 😊#TeamIndia | #INDvAUS | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/dJc7uYbhGc
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 9, 2023
Srikar Bharat has come in as a replacement of Rishabh Pant, who suffered a car accident 2 months ago. Ishan Kishan was also in contention but the management has backed 29-year-old Bharath behind the stumps. Meanwhile, Surya Kumar Yadav’s selection does not raise eyebrows but it will be interesting to see his transition as a long-format player.
https://youtu.be/RzQNhr5ssWc
The 32-year-old was expected to be on the line-up against the Aussies for at least the first two Tests following his exemplary performances in One-dayers and T20Is. Yadav was the ICC Men’s T20I cricketer of the year in 2022 as he amassed outstanding 1164 in 31 matches powered by a daunting strike rate of 187.43.
KS Bharat on the other hand has great talent and he is well experienced in red ball cricket. The 29-year-old played 86 first class matches and batted in 135 Ranji Innings for Andhra Pradesh, scored 4707 runs alongside 9 Centuries and 27 fifties.
