Border Gavaskar Trophy: Strongest India Playing 11 for second Test

The chances for India to open the Border Gavaskar Trophy Down Under with a victory were projected to be utterly low. Right before the start of the Australian tour, India endured a heavy defeat at the hands of New Zealand at home. The Kiwis became the first side to beat India 3-0 in a Test series in their own backyard. With India’s consistently disappointing performance in the three Tests, the Border Gavaskar Trophy felt like a far-fetched dream. Moreover, the woes deepened when Rohit Sharma sought paternity leave for the first Test, and primary batter Shubman Gill suffered a major injury. However, the fairly raw team led by Jasprit Bumrah scripted a top-notch performance to clinch a historic victory in Perth.

Border Gavaskar Trophy: How did the India Playing 11 fare in the Perth Test?

Rohit Sharma landed in Australia on the day the team won the Border Gavaskar Trophy opener. India playing 11 at the Optus Stadium included two debutants, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Moreover, Devdutt Padikkal, who assumed the No. 3 position in the batting order in Gill’s absence, was playing his first game for India in Australia. The same was the case for opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Additionally, with Rohit Sharma absent, KL Rahul transitioned from the middle order to the opening position. Fielding a team with these many upheavals, Jasprit Bumrah set the tone for the win in Perth.

While the first innings raised further concerns regarding India’s batting order, by the end of the Perth Test, India had not just one but many top performers. As Jasprit Bumrah, with a fiery spell, took the match into his grasp, Indian batters rose to the occasion. Jaiswal, who endured an eight-ball duck in the opening innings, hit his maiden Test century in Australia. Moreover, KL Rahul, who had been on an extended lean patch before the series, became part of a record-breaking opening partnership for India, scoring 77 runs. To make things even better, Virat Kohli finally broke free from his rusty form as he hit his 81st career ton.

India delivered a near-perfect performance, becoming the first-ever side to claim a victory over the Kangaroos at the Optus Stadium. KL Rahul batted as if the opening position had always belonged to him. Moreover, with Kohli regaining his form, the lineup seemed well-equipped to move ahead in the series. However, now that the regular captain has returned to the side, the lineup is set to change. Furthermore, the playing XI could undergo additional alterations to meet the demands in Adelaide, with the second Test being a day-night affair.

Predicted India Playing 11 for the second BGT Test in Adelaide

With the return of Rohit Sharma, an obvious move would be to drop Devdutt Padikkal from the team. Additionally, KL Rahul is likely to take the No. 3 position if Shubman Gill does not recover in time for the Adelaide Test. According to the latest reports, Gill will not participate in the practice Test ahead of the second BGT clash. However, if Gill does return, Dhruv Jurel will join Padikkal on the bench. While KL Rahul impressively owned the opening position in the first Test, he is likely to return to the middle order if both Gill and Rohit Sharma play.

As for the bowling lineup, the conditions in Adelaide might demand additional spin assistance. India didn’t play Ravindra Jadeja or Ravi Ashwin in Perth, opting instead for Washington Sundar due to his impressive batting credentials. However, with Adelaide presenting different conditions, the management can ponder over including the seasoned spinner, Ravi Ashwin in the playing XI. However, it would be see if the conditions at Adelaide can deviate the management's plan for an extra batting option. If not, then, Sundar is likely to continue in the India Playing 11 for the match ahead. Moreover, India wouldn’t want to compromise on their pace arsenal. Thus, the likes of Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are highly likely to remain intact in the team's equation.

Predicted Playing XI of India for the second Border Gavaskar Trophy Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj