Former Indian National Cricket Team head coach Ravi Shastri has announced India’s playing XI for the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ravi Shastri has picked pace bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy in his squad for the opening Test series against the Australian National Cricket Team from November 22 in Perth.
It’s a tough one and the selectors have a choice – Ravi Shastri in India’s opening pair
India captain Rohit Sharma is doubtful for the first Test against Australia as he is currently in Mumbai for the birth of his second child. In his absence, India will need a new player to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top and according to Ravi Shastri, Shubman Gill should be moved from the No.3 spot and form an opening duo with Jaiswal.
Notably, KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran are in the Indian squad as the designated openers, but Shastri has opted for Rahul at No.3.
“It’s a tough job and the selectors have a choice. You can send Shubman (Gill) back the order and he has opened in Australia in the past,” Ravi Shastri said in ICC Review.
“Otherwise, you’ll have to make an alternative later. Easwaran didn’t do that well (for India A in Australia). But how he bats in the nets, how Rahul hits the net. But there’s also the option of Shubman Gill.”
Shastri advised the Indian coaches to focus on the performance of the players at the net and make selection decisions based on that. He said:
“I’ve always looked at the footwork as a coach. Sometimes the run isn’t important, but if the player moves well and the feet move nicely and you try to understand his game and understand whether he has that game or not, if he’s in those conditions, if he’s If he has the right strokes for those types of pitches, you should look at them when you start picking an overseas side.
“It’s horses for courses in a lot of ways. Most of the team will pick themselves, but there will be one or two cases where you just have to go and dig deep and go with your gut.”
I think he can easily play as a (expert) mortician – Ravi Shastri on Dhruv Jurel
Rishabh Pant sealed his place in the Indian playing XI as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman and there were calls for his inclusion in the playing XI for his heroics with the bat in unofficial Tests against fellow wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel. Australia A.
According to Ravi Shastri, Dhruv Jurel is good enough to play pure batter and he should be included in India’s Perth Test XI against Sarfaraz Khan. He elaborated:
“I think he can easily play as a (expert) batter. What impressed me the most was his temperament, his composure when the chips were down and the intensity he brought to his game – especially under pressure.
“You can see a lot of players struggling under pressure. You can see that they are jealous. You can see them everywhere in the store. You can see those nerves coming through. But in this boy, his character was noticeable.
“When the chips are down, even against England (earlier this year), he stepped up to the plate. So I like what I’ve seen and if he’s in a good marriage, I’ll be ready to test him. Seeing his form, I’ve got 80s and 60s. I think it will do a world of good.
They want to buy Nitesh Reddy – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri further said that India should go with only one spin bowling option either Ravindra Jadeja or Washington Sundar. He said:
“I would go with one spinner. I was in Perth last year when Pakistan played Australia. And to have two spinners in those circumstances is a luxury.
“Which one to pick now, Ashwin or Jadeja? So again, it’s the current form. Jadeja brings a lot to the table, both with his fielding and his batting. So he’d get the upper hand more often than not overseas. But still how they see it and how the jersey looks on the nets.”
Finally, Ravi Shastri opted for India’s pace bowling attack and included Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deepi as front-line players and Nitish Reddy as an all-rounder. He said:
“I think the three I would pick straight away are Aakash Deep, (Muhammad) Siraj and Bumrah and then they (selectors) have to see the balance.
“They want two spinners? Do they want to take a risk with two spinners or pick up Nitesh Reddy? Nitesh Reddy will have to do something like Shardul Thakur as the fourth seamer.”
Ravi Shastri’s predicted XI (in absence of Rohit Sharma): Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja/Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Siraj, Mohammed Deep.
