India have made a strategic start in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against hosts Australia, opting to bat first after winning the toss. The match is being held at the Optus Stadium in Perth, where conditions are expected to be challenging for batters due to the pitch’s notorious bounce and pace.

Key highlights

• Debutants for India: The Indian team has introduced two debutants, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, while Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel also make their first appearance in Test cricket on Australian soil. Notably, veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been left out of the playing XI, a decision that has raised eyebrows given their experience and past performances.
• Captaincy Changes: Jasprit Bumrah is leading India in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma, who is currently in Mumbai for the birth of his second child. Bumrah’s leadership will be crucial as he faces off against Australian captain Pat Cummins, marking a rare occasion where both captains are bowlers.
• Batting Order: With Rohit and Shubman Gill missing from the squad due to personal reasons and injury respectively, Virat Kohli’s performance will be under scrutiny. He has historically performed well in Australia, amassing over 1300 runs with six centuries in 13 Tests on Australian soil. The Indian batting lineup will look to him for inspiration as they navigate a challenging series following a disappointing home loss to New Zealand.
• Australia’s lineup: On the Australian side, Nathan McSweeney is making his Test debut as an opener alongside Usman Khawaja. The Australian team is also adjusting its batting order after David Warner’s retirement from international cricket. The absence of all-rounder Cameron Green due to injury adds another layer of challenge for the home side.

Australia vs India 1st BGT 2024-25 Test: Playing XIs

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj

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