IND vs AUS 2023: India’s predicted XI for first Test match against Australia

Team India will take on Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series, which includes four Tests. The first Test is just a couple of days away from getting underway. The Test opener will begin on February 9 at VCA Stadium which is located in Nagpur.

Both teams have been sincerely prepping for the Test challenge. It’s going to be a cracker of a contest for sure. No matter what format it is, when India and Australia lock horns with each other, the entertainment quotient gets amplified to the core.

This goes to show that both teams have a long and rich history and tough battles over the years. It is important to start the Test series on a great note. The winner of the first Test might as well get the much-needed boost going forward into the Test series.

With the first Test slated to get underway in a couple of days, let’s take a glimpse at the predicted playing XI for the Test opener.

Openers: Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma (captain)

India’s young cricketer Shubman Gill has been in the form of his life of late. He recently scripted history by becoming the youngest cricketer to score a century across all three formats of the game. Besides that, he also became the youngest cricketer to score a double century in ODIs.

Taking all his credentials and form factor into account, it is highly likely that Shubman Gill will get the nod to open the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma in the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series. Shubman Gill can take pride in the fact that he scored a match-winning 91 against Australia at The Gabba in the fourth Test.

India won their first Test at the Gabba and also went on to win the series by 2-1. On the other hand, it is going to be Rohit Sharma’s first Test series against Australia as Test captain. He scored 3137 runs, including 8 tons and 14 fifties at an average of 46.1 and will be looking forward to delivering the work rate as captain and batsman.