The World’s number one test side Australia and the number two side India will be confident after winning their respective test series this year. But as they say, It is most difficult to win a Test series in India.
The Host India has played just one Test series since last July. In the last against Bangladesh, India won the test series by 2-0 in Bangladesh. India’s dependent batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who had the most amazing English Summer playing for Sussex, was the leading run-scorer with 222 runs in a century and a half-century. The left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav made a successful comeback in the squad by taking 8 wickets in the only game he could play.
The Visitors Australia played a three-match Test series against the Proteas at home. An all-around performance from Aussies batters and bowlers helped the Hosts win the series 2-0. The vice-captain of the side Steve Smith topped the run-scoring chart with 231 runs, followed by his teammates opening batter David Warner and middle-order batter Travis Head.
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins led the bowling attack with 12 wickets averaging at 16.91. Smith averages 60 and has 3 centuries in 6 tests played in India. His form is a warning to Indian pacers.
India pulled a massive comeback in the last Border Gavaskar Trophy held in Australia. After trailing 1-0 after the first Test, Men in Blue won the series 2-1 after some final-day heroics from left-handed wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant.
Unfortunately, his exclusion due to injuries suffered in a horrific accident will leave a void in the Indian squad this year and won’t be taking part in the series. Not to everyone’s surprise, India had also won the last test played against Australia in India. Men in Blue beat the visitors by 8 wickets while chasing 106 runs in the fourth innings.
The BGT will have the utmost importance for team India. This will be their final chance to qualify for the final of the World Test Finals. India needs at least 2 wins to get the ticket to England. If they manage to pull this off, they will face Australia in June.
The skipper of the side Rohit Sharma will be seen in whites after a long time. It will not be easy for the side to select a balanced playing XI.
Shreyas Iyer’s injury and Suryakumar Yadav-Shubman Gill’s excellent form have increased the concern of the captain and coach ahead of Nagpur’s test match. At the same time, the spectacular comeback of Kuldeep Yadav has given tough competition in spin bowling as well. Now there will be a tough fight between Axar Patel and Kuldeep for the third spinner’s slot along with Jadeja and Ashwin.
The leader of the side Rohit Sharma is set to open the innings but it will be a tough fight between vice-captain Rahul and Shubman Gill as his partner. In the last series, only Gill and Rahul started the innings in his absence against Bangladesh. While Gill is in excellent form, skipper Rahul too cannot be dropped from the team. Rohit and Rahul are more likely to open the innings, while Gill is likely to bat at 5 or in the middle order. However, there will also be a close fight between him and Suryakumar Yadav. SKY can be preferred in the middle order, but Gill has Test match experience and scored a century in the last series itself. At the same time, the number one T20I batter SKY has not played any Test match so far.
Cheteshwar Pujara is set to play at number three. At the same time, veteran batter Virat Kohli will bat in the fourth position. Shreyas Iyer’s place at number five was confirmed, but after his injury, Suryakumar Yadav or Shubman Gill can play this position.
After the injury of Rishabh Pant, the place of wicketkeeper in the team is also vacant. Ishan Kishan or KS Bharat can fill this spot in place of Pant. Although Kishan scored a double century against Bangladesh and is also a left-handed batter, Jadeja is the only left-handed batter in the Indian team. Apart from him, whoever plays Axar or Kuldeep will be a left-handed batter. Kishan can also get the benefit of being a left-handed player. At the same time, KS Bharat has been doing consistently well in the longer format and the captain would like to give him a chance too.
If Rohit decides to get wicketkeeping from LK Rahul, then both Gill and Suryakumar can stay in the team. Both Kishan and Bharat will be out of the team.
At the same time, Kuldeep or Axar of Ashwin and Jadeja will get a chance in spin bowling. Kuldeep has the upper hand going by his recent form. The number one ODI bowler Siraj and Shami are sure to play among the fast bowlers.
The opening pair of Warner and Khawaja has been booked in Australia’s team for the first test match. Labuschagne will play at number three and Smith at number four.
Mitchell Starc will miss the first test while Nathan Lyon is confirmed with captain Cummins among the bowlers. The fast gun bowler Scott Boland can be the third fast bowler for the first test match. At the same time, Ashton Agar will be the second spinner along with Lyon. Wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey is also set to play in the first encounter as well. Travis Head can play in place of injured Cameron Green. Head and Labuschagne can also bowl spin if needed.
Both nations have played 102 Test matches with India winning 30 matches and the Aussies 43 in which one ended in a tie and 28 times both teams settled with a drawn. India has won the last two Test series by 2-1 margins. India and Australia have played a total of 27 Test series against each other. Of these Men in Blue have won 10 times whereas Aussies have won 12 series, with 5 series ending in draws.
Match Details
Match: IND vs AUS, 1st Test Match, Australia tour of India 2023
Date: Thursday, 09 February – Monday, 13 February
Time: 09:30 AM
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur
Pitch & Weather Report
Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground venue has been favoured equally in all 5 tests to India and Australia twice. Surprisingly the average score in the second innings is more than the first innings. The average first innings score at this venue is 345 runs. The role reverses with the third innings having a strong hand over the fourth. The team winning the toss should bowl first.
This venue holds a capacity of 45000 spectators and has hosted 5 Tests, 11 ODIs & 12 T20Is so far. The Hosts have registered the highest total of 610 runs at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, with 4 batters (Murali Vijay, Pujara, Kohli, Rohit Sharma) scoring centuries in an inning.
The maximum temperature will remain at 32°C, with a low of 15°C with 30% humidity, and a slow wind speed of 6 Km/hr for the first Test between India and Australia on Feb 09-Feb 13. There is no rain expected for the course of this test match which will begin this Thursday.
IND vs AUS Squads
IND: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat, Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
AUS: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
IND vs AUS: Probable XIs
IND: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, KS Bharat/Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami
AUS: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Peter Handscomb, Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Lance Morris, Scott Boland
Match Prediction
The Visitors had a great World Test Finals cycle so far. Australia has already qualified for the finals. But it’s the battle they crave to win for. Winning a test series in India is not anyone’s cup of tea. Aussies will be desperate to win their first series on Indian soil since their final success in 2004, especially after India made it possible in Australia twice.
The Hosts will have the upper hand with the stats anyone can look for on the first test in Nagpur. India hasn’t lost a series since 2012 against the rest of the world and since 2004 against the Aussies. India has won the BGT four times in the last five occasions. Besides that, it’s 10 wins and a loss against Australia so far in the last 14 Tests in Men in Blue. We say India to dominate the first test against Australia.