India announced their playing XI for their first match against Australia in Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This match is also a historic first-ever pink-ball Test for India in Australia. The BCCI made the announcement through a social media post on Twitter on Wednesday.
There was a lot of talk about India’s openers, wicket-keeper and the third seamer to back up Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in the lead up to the four-match Test series. And Virat surprisingly overturned most of the predictions about the playing XI with the inclusion of Hanuma Vihari and Umesh Yadav. Notably, practice match centurion Rishabh Pant is excluded from the squad.
India’s playing XI for 1st Test against Australia:
Mayank Agrarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohamamed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
