Australia vs India 2018-19: India's strongest playing XI for the first Test

With the three-match T20I series between India and Australia coming to an end, all eyes are now on the four-match Test series. The first of the four matches is set to start on 6th December at Adelaide, and the anticipation has reached a fever pitch.

With the hosts missing the services of Steve Smith and David Warner, the visitors have a great chance to win their maiden Test series on Australian soil. The Virat Kohli-led Indian team would look to overcome the inexperienced Australian side. On the other hand, the Tim Paine-led Australian side will look to erase the memory of their recent humiliations.

The Indian selectors picked Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel in the squad, both of whom were not a part of the England Test tour. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik have not been included in the squad.

India's Test squad for the Australia tour: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Parthiv Patel, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Shami, Ishant, Umesh, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Here, we take a look at India's strongest playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Adelaide.

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#1 Openers

Murali Vijay and KL Rahul

Murali Vijay

Prithvi Shaw had a great opportunity to open the innings for the Indian team on Australian soil. However, things took a turn for the tragic for him as he injured his left ankle during a practice game against Cricket Australia XI, and was subsequently ruled out of the first Test.

In the absence of Shaw, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul will likely open the innings for the Indian team in Adelaide. Vijay was in poor form against England, but decent performances in county cricket earned him a spot in the Test squad for the Australia tour. He would look to play some big knocks to cement his place in the squad.

KL Rahul

Opening the innings along with Vijay will be KL Rahul. He has been in poor form since the start of the South Africa tour in early 2018, and could be dropped if he fails to deliver in the first Test.

Rahul has gained some confidence by scoring a much-needed fifty in the practice game against CA XI. But the Karnataka batsman needs to step up and deliver his best to put the pressure on the Australian bowlers.

#2 Middle order

Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari

Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara is an important member of the Indian Test team. But he has not been in great touch lately, having scored just one century in 2018.

Pujara would look to get back his old form in the upcoming series as he has good numbers against Australia. So far, he has played 12 Tests against the Kangaroos and scored 1,101 runs at an average of 55.05 which includes two centuries and six fifties.

Virat Kohli

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli is currently one of the best batsmen in all formats of the game. When India visited Australia in 2014, Kohli amassed 692 runs in four games at a scintillating average of 86.5 with four centuries.

With the kind of form he is riding in red-ball cricket, we can expect a similar result from him in the upcoming Test series.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane, who has been in poor form lately, would look to get back to his best in the forthcoming series. He has scored just 445 runs in his last 15 innings at an average of about 30, which has made many question his place in the team.

That said, Rahane has been one of the most consistent players for India in the past, especially in overseas conditions. The Mumbaikar has scored 2131 runs in 52 innings at a phenomenal average of 46.33 with 6 centuries outside India.

Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari, who has been in good form in domestic cricket, will likely feature in the playing XI at No. 6. The team management included Rohit Sharma in the Test squad to strengthen the middle-order, but the skipper asked Vihari to bat ahead of Rohit in the practice game against Cricket Australia XI.

He scored a well-deserved 50 in the first innings and remained not out on 15 in the second. Vihari the medium-pacer, who took three wickets against England, will also give an extra bowling option to his skipper.

#3 Wicket-keeper and all-rounder

Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin

Rishabh Pant

The young sensation from Delhi, Rishabh Pant has cemented his place in the Test side. He made his Test debut against England and smashed a century at Kennington Oval, followed by a couple of the fifties against West Indies.

Pant's batting could prove highly beneficial for the Indian side in amassing a big total on the board. He will be crucial for India's chances in the first Test at Adelaide.

England v India: Specsavers 2nd Test - Day Four

Ravichandran Ashwin is easily one of the finest off-spinners in the world. Considering his success and experience in the longest format of the game, he should be included in the playing XI ahead of Jadeja.

So far, Ashwin has played 14 Tests against Australia and taken 71 wickets. He can also bat according to the situation, giving an extra option to his skipper, Virat Kohli.

#4 Fast bowlers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the few bowlers who can swing the ball both ways. His inclusion in the Test squad will give huge confidence to the other members of the attack. Bhuvneshwar, who missed the Test series against England due to a back injury, would look to trouble the Aussies in the forthcoming series.

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Mohammed Shami has been a consistent performer for the Indian team in the longest version of the game. His reverse-swing abilities could trouble the inexperienced Australian batting line-up.

Shami picked up 15 and 16 wickets on the South Africa and England tours respectively in 2018. We can expect a similar kind of performance from him during the Test series against Australia.

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Jasprit Bumrah has had a great start to his Test career. So far, he has played six matches and taken 28 wickets at an average of 25.57 with two five-wicket hauls.

It won't be surprising if he finishes as the leading wicket-taker in this Test series.