Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, and Prithvi Shaw will represent India in the Adelaide Test. Umesh Yadav will be the third fast bowler. These were the main questions India contemplated two days before the Test: whether to continue backing the energetic Shaw, whether to play with a bowler and persist with the safest option of Ashwin, and which of the goalkeepers should play. On the eve of the day-night Test, they resolved all the confusion by naming the eleven.
Shaw had been under pressure, with Shubman Gill performing better in the two tour matches. However, Shaw was the starting opener and proved in a four-run innings in New Zealand that he can be destructive. He scored 0, 19, 40 and 3 in the two tour matches, but more than the scores, it was his loose shots that worried.Similarly, the Test’s starting bowler, especially with Ravindra Jadeja absent due to injury and concussion, kept his place. The last time India chose not to have Ashwin in an opening match of the series was on the 2014-15 Australia tour.
In the case of the wicketkeeper, India left out the regular Pant, who has been preferred over Saha in Tests outside of Asia. 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 warm-up match he played.
