BGT 2023: How will India lineup for Nagpur Test?

Siraj in practice [Twitter/BCCI]

The wait is almost over as the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar series is about to commence on February 9 in Nagpur.

Team India have not lost a home series to Australia since 2004, and will be looking to maintain that streak. However, injuries to key players prior to the series has certainly hampered their game plan. There is no Rishabh Pant, no Jasprit Bumrah, and no Shreyas Iyer in the squad. 

The biggest talking point ahead of the first Test is - Who will open for India? Gill or KL Rahul?

Lots of questions to answer, so at OneCricket we try and decode the probable XI for the Nagpur Test.

Openers

Rohit Sharma will play his first Test match in a long, long time. He looked good in the white-ball series against Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, and will be oozing with confidence. But who will open alongside him? You cannot drop Shubman Gill, who is at the peak of his powers.

But you also cannot drop KL Rahul, he is the vice-captain of this Indian Test team. With Shreyas Iyer ruled out of the first Test, the logical think would be to open with Gill at his preferred position, and push KL down at number 5. In the pre-match press conference yesterday, KL Rahul had given a hint that if needed, he can come down the order.

Middle order

Cheteshwar Pujara is India's undisputed starter at number three. He has a terrific record against Australia, and is arguably the most reliable batter in the squad at the moment. 

Virat Kohli has got his mojo back in the white-ball format, but is yet to find his groove in the longest format of the game. But he has a special liking towards the Aussies, and expect the run-machine to score truckloads of runs at number 4.

As stated earlier, KL Rahul is open to bat at number 5. India need stability in the absence of Pant and Iyer, and Rahul can be that man for India. He has the experienced of batting at number five in ODIs, and if he can replicate the same form in Test matches, there is no reason as to why India can't win the BGT.

Wicket-keeper

Another tough choice to make. Rishabh Pant's unfortunate injury has hampered India's gameplan. But there is still hope left. The ever-reliant KS Bharat is there, who is travelling with the squad since the last 1.5 years. There is Ishan Kishan waiting in the wings, but KS Bharat needs to be rewarded for his patience. He has a stellar record in first-class cricket, and time has come for his Test debut.

Bowlers

The pitch at Nagpur will turn right from day 1. So, expect India to go with three spinners. R Ashwin is a sure starter. His knack of picking wickets, especially in Asian conditions is something special. With four left-handers in top six, Ashwin will be licking his lips at the moment.

Ravindra Jadeja is making his comeback after a long time. He has recovered from the knee injury, and is the perfect partner to pair up with R Ashwin. The duo have previously wreaked havoc against the Aussies, and will be looking to do the same this time.

Axar Patel/Kuldeep Yadav: A tough choice to make. Both have been oozing with confidence at the moment, but India can only go with one spinner. Axar Patel in dry pitches is a blessing in disguise for the Indian side, but Kuldeep provides a different variety. Moreover, Axar and Jadeja are like-to-like players, so India might be tempted to go with Kuldeep.

Mohammad Shami is India's most reliable bowler in Tests. He has the ability to swing the ball both ways, and that could be useful against the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.

You cannot drop Mohammed Siraj at the moment. The numero uno in ODI cricket, Siraj's rise has been a great story for the viewers. The fiery competitiveness he brings to the table is something to be appreciated for. Some might feel Umesh Yadav should play at his home ground, but India is likely to play safe in the first Test.

Probable XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Srikar Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav/Axar Patel, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj

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