Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Indian Cricket Team Playing 11 for first test in Perth - Predicted

The Indian Cricket Team currently hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In less than a dozen days, the Indian cricket team and the Australian cricket team will stride into the Optus Stadium in Perth to kick off the most anticipated test series of the year: Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

For the first time since the 1991/92 series, India and Australia will clash in a five-match test series. India are the current holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won their last four series against Australia, including twice on Australian soil.

However, they are far from being favourites or even equal contenders this time as they are reeling off a historic and shocking home series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand, and are also missing senior pacer Mohammed Shami.

Let us look at the possible XI that the Indian cricket team will be fielding in the first BGT test in Perth, starting on November 22.

Indian Cricket Team predicted playing 11 for the first test vs Australia in Perth:

1. Rohit Sharma (C)/KL Rahul

Until the day of the scheduled departure of the Indian squad, there is uncertainty around the availability of captain Rohit Sharma for the Perth test. Sharma is in doubt for the first test due to personal reasons, something he also hinted at after the conclusion of the New Zealand series, saying he is “not too sure whether I will be going [to Perth], but let’s see fingers crossed.”

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 is Rohit’s first assignment as a captain in Australia but he might not be there to see it get underway in Perth.

If Rohit misses the first BGT test, then KL Rahul has emerged as a likely option to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul, who was given the middle-order role last year and had done decently, was dropped after the first test against New Zealand as Sarfaraz Khan smashed a century. But, Rahul has significant experience of opening in non-Asian countries and has registered centuries in Australia, England, and South Africa – being the only Indian opener to do so in history.

Rahul was flown to Australia before the rest of the squad to participate in the second four-day game against Australia A. He managed scores of 4 and 10 but looked assured in the second innings as he played 44 balls before getting out in a bizarre fashion.

Abhimanyu Easwaran is the backup opener in the squad but India are unlikely to hand him a debut in the tough conditions in Perth, not least because Easwaran had scores of 7, 12, 0 and 17 in the two games against Australia A.

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal

With 1119 runs, Jaiswal is the second-leading test run-scorer in 2024, behind only Joe Root. He was the leading run-scorer in the series against England and Bangladesh but managed only one half-century against New Zealand.

This is his first test tour of Australia. His battle with the Australian pace trio would be exciting to see.

3. Shubman Gill

Gill is on his second test tour to Australia. He made his test debut on the 2020/21 and played a memorable innings of 91 in the epic run-chase at the Gabba.

Gill made his debut as an opener but has now shifted to the No. 3 spot. In his new role, he’s done impressively, averaging 42 in 14 tests. In the Mumbai test against New Zealand, he played a terrific knock of 90.

4. Virat Kohli

The BGT 2024/25 is very likely the last test series for the 36-year-old Virat Kohli in Australia. This is his fifth test series in this country where he has an excellent record: average of 54 with six centuries and four fifties.

Kohli needs to draw all his experience for both the team and himself. He’s in a terrible rut in test cricket: against New Zealand, he managed only 93 runs in six innings. But the pacy conditions in Australia will be much different from the spin-friendly pitches that he has struggled on in recent years.

5. Rishabh Pant (wk)

Despite coming back from a long injury layoff, Pant continued on his test form from where he left. In five tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand, he hit one century and three fifties and is well-prepared for his third test series in Australia.

In seven tests in Australia, Pant averages a whopping 62 with one ton and two fifties, which includes his incredible knock of 89* on the last day of the Gabba test.

6. Dhruv Jurel

Dhruv Jurel and KL Rahul were sent to Australia a week before the rest of the squad members to feature in the second four-day match against Australia A. On a spicy MCG pitch, Jurel came out with flying colours as he registered scores of 80 and 68.

With these fighting knocks, in which he showed adeptness at adjusting to the pace-friendly MCG pitch and the temperament to handle the Australian bowlers, Jurel might have sealed his place in India’s XI for the first BGT test as a batsman over Sarfaraz Khan, who is said to have issues against pace and bounce.

Sarfaraz hit 150 in Bengaluru against New Zealand in good batting conditions, but managed only 21 runs in the rest of his five innings.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

Given there would be little to no help for spinners in Perth, India are expected to play Ravindra Jadeja as the only spinner or spin-bowling all-rounder in the side over R Ashwin. Jadeja was India’s joint-highest wicket-taker against New Zealand with 16 scalps.

He won’t be expected to take many wickets, but it will be his disciplined bowling India would want as that would allow the captain to rotate his four pacers.

He has played only four tests in Australia. With the bat, he averaged 43 in them and with the ball, he took 14 wickets at an average of 21 – solid numbers for a spinner in these conditions.

8. Akash Deep

Akash Deep is on his maiden test tour of Australia. In five home tests so far, he’s snapped 10 wickets at an average of 25.80.

What is the most impressive and standout quality about Deep is that he attacks the stumps more than the other Indian pacers, especially while going round the wicket to left-handers. He could even be seen bowling with the new ball to Usman Khawaja.

9. Jasprit Bumrah (VC)

Jasprit Bumrah will be leading India’s pace attack once again. This time, he will be without the likes of Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav. There could be the added responsibility of captaincy as well if Rohit misses the Perth test.

One of the biggest reasons for India’s success on their previous two series in Australia, Bumrah has 32 wickets in seven tests in Australia at an average of 21.25.

10. Mohammed Siraj

Siraj made a name for himself in the Gabba test almost four years ago with a five-for in Australia’s second innings. He’s become a key pacer and has done well to support Bumrah in non-Asian tests.

He’s been in a bit of a slump since his five-for in Cape Town at the start of the year. In his last eight tests, Siraj has picked up only 12 wickets at 44.16, though all of these tests were in India.

11. Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna, who made his test debut in South Africa in December last year, could add to his two test caps in the Perth test. With India expected to pick four pacers, the lanky Krishna could be effective in Perth because of his height.

In the second four-day match against Australia A at the MCG, Krishna picked up six wickets, generating extra bounce to hurry the host batters.

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