India Vs Australia, 2017: India’s Predicted XI Against Australia For Bengaluru Test

Mar 2, 2017 at 7:54 PM

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India Vs Australia, 2017: India’s Predicted XI Against Australia For Bengaluru Test

After inexperienced Australia thumped India by the massive margin of 333 in the first Test on the turf which was rated poor by International Cricket Council body’s match referee Chris Broad, the pitch curators in Bangalore are aiming high in a bid to work hard – to make it a productive wicket for both India and Australia sides.

India would like to make a strong comeback after they suffered from a collective failure as the visitors are high on confidence after wrapping the first Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy inside three days while bundling out formidable India on 105 and 107 respectively.

Earlier, many cricket experts had termed India as favourites at their own backyard, but playing to their potential Australia had turned the tables by giving their one of the best performances they have had displayed in Asia by their all-round performance in the red-ball cricket.

The Pune track favoured the visitors as it backfired what the curators would’ve not thought. And it was left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O’Keefe, who rose on to the occasion by claiming 12 wickets in the game to bring Indian batting line-up to its knees.

Hosts’ skipper, Virat Kohli who had a prolific run with the bat and has turned out as the significant leader particularly in longer format,

Showing its character, Kohli would be backing his boys in Bangalore to start the second Test game with the winning note after plenty of drama took place in Pune.

India is ranked number one in the ICC Test Rankings after giving remarkable performances throughout the season last year and the side would be desperate to open the score in the ongoing Test series in which Australia came as Underdogs.

Before the start of the series opener India had 19 unbeaten Tests wins in the kitty since August 2015.

Interestingly, India lost the Test for the first time since 2012 at home and this show how they have build on in the longer format cricket in their backyard under two different leaders in the form of Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who eventually retired from the Test cricket in 2014.

The hosts’ are sweating out profusely in the nets to bounce back in the remainder of the Test series as Kohli would not like to tinker too much in the Playing XI after the crushing defeat in Pune.

Here we look at the predicted XI for the second Test match against Australia at Bengaluru.

1. Murali Vijay:

Known for his resilience and perfect hand-eye coordination, Murali Vijay, the opening batsman in the recent past had played an anchor’s role for India. In Bengaluru Vijay would be eyeing to build his innings to give his side an early momentum against the Australian decent bowling line-up.

The 32-year-old Chennai-born has the ability to bat longer period following his solid technique and temperament. Having the terrific record against Australia, in 11 matches, Murali has scored 1,174 at an average of 55.90 which included four hundreds and five fifties.

In the Pune Test, Vijay added just 10 in his first and two in his second innings.

However, Vijay has been the part of winning contingent against England as he is considered the best in business against the new ball bowlers for the solid start.

2. KL Rahul:

KL Rahul has struggled with the form to cement his place so far in the side and home ground would be a treat for him to score big after failing to provide impetus in the first Test even after scoring 64 before playing a rash shot on the wicket which was bone-dry.

The 24-year-old Rahul has all those ingredients in his bag, but he needs to be bit cautious for not throwing his wicket at the crucial junctures the way he did against Australia before the hosts collapsed.

Rahul made fighting 64 off 97 balls in the first against Australia while spending 135 minutes at the crease and this shows he has the ability to stretch innings for a longer period of time. He was dismissed on 10 in the second innings.

The wicket-keeper batsman would be aiming to settle the score in order to exert the pressure from the middle-order batting line-up.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara:

Solid as a rock, Cheteshwar Pujara has been a charismatic character for India with such immense talent on his back. Pujara, the fine stroke-maker had played a significant role for his side to help his team in the longer format for registering their wins from time to time.

The cornerstone Pujara has set his mark at number three while playing the vital role in the recently concluded Test series which India won by 4-0.

The 29-year-old right-handed batsman Pujara has been known for his positive approach for the national side in order to register wins.

4. Virat Kohli:

Virat Kohli is every household name after he has become a sensational figure in the field of sports. While taking pressure off from the team and chasing the daunting totals had made Kohli a brand in himself following his milestones in the longest format of the game.

Kohli has been the frontrunner for India with the bat and now has shouldered the all-format responsibility to make things easier for his talented side.

The 28-year-old Kohli has been termed a threat for Australia and would be eyeing to accelerate his side to start their winning campaign after a sudden halt to their 19 unbeaten Test streak.

5. Ajinkya Rahane:

Ajinkya Rahane is the versatile cricketer India has had in the modern era following his incredible concentration with the bat, playing the appreciative role for India in the overseas condition, Rahane did not had the best of the home season so far before suffering finger injury, but he is the player who plays slow and fast bowling very well in order to further set himself cemented in the XI.

Ajinkya has a crucial role to play against Australia in the middle order and he would be aiming to score runs while playing his natural game against the spinners and pacers.

6. Wriddhiman Saha:

The obvious choice wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha in the longer format has been productive with the gloves for India in the recent past. Saha has the great technique to collect the ball and he would be eyeing to score runs with the bat after showing some acrobatic stuff to the fans in the recent past.

In the Pune Test, pulled off a spectacular catch while diving full length to his right in order to dismiss Steve O’Keefe in the 81st over of the game on the bowling of Umesh Yadav.

7: Ravindra Jadeja:

The left-handed batsman and a slow-orthodox spinner Ravindra Jadeja picked three wickets in the Test game against Australia, but didn’t had a good outing with the bat.

The bright prospect for the longer format, Jadeja is the man to rely on for the late order batting where he could chip in with important runs for his side.

Phenomenal with the ball, Jadeja has improved quite a lot as a long format bowler and is currently sitting at the number second position in the ICC MRF ICC Tyres Test rankings.

The Gujarat-born Jadeja has played a key role for India during the five match series against England.

Jadeja would be aiming to top the Test rankings while giving his best with the ball against Australia.

8. Ravichandran Ashwin:

Ravichandran Ashwin had been a backbone for India in the spin bowling line-up and he has been giving stellar of the performances at home since past many years.

In five Tests against England, off-spinner Ashwin had claimed 28 wickets at home which assist the spinners and he has been delivering goods for his team.

Ranked as Number one Test bowler, Ashwin is handy with the bat and could score crucial runs to lift the momentum of his side.

In the Pune Test, Ashwin bagged seven wickets in the game and he has been captain’s go-to bowler in the crisis situation.

9. Umesh Yadav:

Umesh Yadav has remerged himself as a brilliant bowler for India and has eventually bowled splendidly well against Australia during the first Test where he has bagged five wickets with his sheer pace and brilliance.

Following the immaculate line and length, he has also the ability to reverse the ball – to make it tougher for the visitors’ batsmen.

Bowling with some vicious pace, Yadav could be Virat Kohli’s go-to bowler upfront with the SG ball to put an early pressure on the Kangaroos to level the series.

10. Ishant Sharma:

The lanky fast bowler Ishant Sharma could use his height to gain much from the green wicket as he is an aggressive bowler who has the ability to stop the flow of runs and claim wickets from the new ball.

He is the best bet to go who at times concede extras while putting all his efforts in the match

While sending down 14 overs in the first Test where he went wickless, Ishant would Test the visitors batting line-up at the front.

11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

There’s a chance to hand Bhuvneshwar Kumar a ball, who has been one of the most sought-after bowler in the limited-overs cricket. Given the green tinge of grass; Kohli would like to have the wily customer Bhuvneshwar to drop out Jayant Yadav in the XI in order to make it 3:2 as the formation of the fast and slow bowlers.

Know for the control on the ball and who has the ability to swing the ball to ask many questions to the best of the batsmen in long format Bhuvneshwar could be an ideal choice for Kohli.

The 29-year-old Bhuvneshwar is the best bet to go either with the new or old ball to deliver results in the favour of his side.

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