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

#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.