Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, and Prithvi Shaw have been selected to represent India in the Adelaide Test. Umesh Yadav will complete the trio of fast bowlers. These were the main questions India contemplated two days before the test.
The doubts centered on whether to maintain confidence in the energetic Shaw, whether to include a spinner and opt for the safety of Ashwin, and which wicketkeeper to choose. On the eve of the day-night Test, they cleared up all the doubts by announcing the XI.
Shaw, under pressure, saw how Shubman Gill performed better in the two matches of the tour. However, Shaw, as a starting opener, demonstrated in a four-run innings in New Zealand his destructive ability. He scored 0, 19, 40 and 3 in the two matches of the tour, but it was his loose shots that worried.Similarly, the titular spinner in the tests, especially with the absence of Ravindra Jadeja due to injury, kept his place. The last time India chose not to include Ashwin in an opening match of the series was on the 2014-15 Australia tour.
In the case of the wicketkeeper, India left out Pant, who has been preferred to Saha in tests outside Asia, where most of the wicketkeeping is done standing back. The management team seems to have decided that the pink ball does a lot and will require a more established wicketkeeper.
Yadav was the favorite to be India’s third fast bowler, replacing the injured Ishant Sharma. Not only does he have Test experience, but he also impressed in the only practice match he played, taking 3 for 48 and 1 for 14 and also scoring useful runs.India’s Line-up: Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
