India Squad For Border-Gavaskar Trophy: The BCCI has announced an 18-man squad plus three reserves for India’s much-awaited upcoming tour of Australia, which comprises five Test matches. The series is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
India have picked three uncapped players, opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, speedster Harshit Rana, and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, in their squad. However, they are bereft of two key men—wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami—due to injuries.
Kuldeep Yadav, who featured in the first Test of the ongoing series against New Zealand but was left out of the second Test, will be getting treated for his long-term chronic left groin issue. Shami, who has been out of action since last year’s World Cup final due to an ankle injury, continues his rehab at the NCA following his surgery.
The fast bowling pack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, includes Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Rana, with Reddy as the seam-bowling all-rounder. Shardul Thakur, who was part of the Gabba win three years ago, doesn’t find a place in the squad.
R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar are the spin-bowling all-rounders, while Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel are the wicketkeepers. Sarfaraz Khan will be on his first away Test tour with Team India. KL Rahul, who was dropped for the Pune Test against New Zealand, has been retained in the squad.
Fast bowlers Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, and Navdeep Saini are the traveling reserves.
Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the side, with Bumrah being named as his deputy. However, it has been learned that Rohit will miss the first two Tests, or at least the first one, due to personal reasons. That could open the door for Abhimanyu Easwaran, who averages 49 in 99 First-Class matches, to make his Test debut, though doing it in Perth isn’t ideal for any batsman. He has been in great form in first-class cricket recently, with five centuries in the last six games, including a double ton.
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This could well be the last Test series in Australia for Rohit and Virat Kohli. This is the first time since the 1991/92 series that India and Australia will compete in a five-match Test series.
India are the current holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They have beaten Australia in their last four Test series, including twice on Australian soil.
Before the first Test in Perth, India will play a warm-up match against India A, and before the second Test, which is a day-night Test in Adelaide, they will play against the Prime Minister’s XI.
India Squad For Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohammed Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
Border-Gavaskar Trophy schedule:
22 Nov 2024 – 26 Nov 2024: 1st Test, Perth
6 Dec 2024 – 10 Dec 2024: 2nd Test, Adelaide (Day-Night)
14 Dec 2024 – 18 Dec 2024: 3rd Test, Brisbane
26 Dec 2024 – 30 Dec 2024: 4th Test, Melbourne
3 Jan 2025 – 7 Jan 2025: 5th Test, Sydney
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