India, on Wednesday, announced their 12-man squad for the first Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval, starting Thursday. The visitors named both Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari in the team, meaning one of the two players will take the number six spot in the batting lineup.
India’s final 12-man squad did not feature fast-bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar and left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Well, it means India is more than likely to play the series-opener with Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and R Ashwin.
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Rest apart, the number six spot could be a big headache for the team-management as they will have to decide one between Hanuma Vihari and Rohit. Vihari, who scored an impressive fifty on his debut in England, scored another fifty in the warm-up game to stake his claim. Interestingly, India had dropped Vihari from the playing eleven for the two Tests at home against Windies.
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But during the warm-up game, he batted ahead of Rohit and with limited time left in the game in the second innings, was pushed up to bat at No.3.
On the other hand, Rohit, who is making a comeback in Tests through this series, has been in red-hot form in white-ball cricket. Rohit faced the axe after failing in South Africa. He subsequently missed the home series against Afghanistan and Windies and the trip to England.
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As far as the openers’ slots are concerned, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay are set to open in the absence of Prithvi Shaw. Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane will take the next three spots. Rishabh Pant will bat at number seven.
India’s final XII for first Test against Australia:
Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah