BGT 2023: Ravi Shastri names India XI for Nagpur Test

Rohit and Cummins together [Associated Press]

Former India coach, Ravi Shastri has picked his ideal India XI for the first Test against Australia in Nagpur.

With the number of injury issues, India face a lot of dilemma for the upcoming series, and Shastri has made big calls when it comes to the India selection.

Speaking on the ICC Review, Shastri was vocal with his choice and reckons that India should win the series 4-0.

Shastri's India XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill/KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat/Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj.

Shastri, 60, made a surprising call by adding Suryakumar Yadav in the playing XI. SKY has been a phenomenal player for India in the T20Is, but his selection in the Test squad raised quite a few eyebrows.

India have plenty of options in the spin department, and Shastri feels the pair of Jadeja and Ashwin will do wonders for the team. Also, he stated that India should include Kuldeep to give that extra zip.

The former World Cup winner stated that the home side should play Siraj and Shami as the two front-line pacers, since the duo have played a lot of cricket together as of late.

Shastri opines

"India should look to win 4-0, we’re playing at home. I’m brutal. I’ve been to two tours of Australia, I know what’s happened," Shastri said on The ICC Review.

He added: "If someone asks me what kind of pitch? Expect that. If you lose the toss, expect the ball to turn in the first session of play. That’s what I want, and take it from there."

"(Ravindra) Jadeja comes back into the side, it was always going to be between Jadeja or Axar (Patel). You can play both actually, if you want to strengthen your batting."

Australia already have one foot in the WTC finals, and India need to win the series at-least 2-1, or 3-1 to seal their place in the finals.

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