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As the team is worried about batting depth my suggestion was to keep Rana as he can whack a bit and has a first class century :D. This was the reason for his selection in the first place.

The only change I see happening is Rohit replacing Jurel, I hope he plays at same position as well, he is clearly failing as captain and player, hopefully this change of position helps him to get in double figures in few of the matches.

You really think they would retain DDP even if Gill is not ready. I don’t think so, and if Gill is not ready, KL definitely moves to one down and if Gill is available KL plays at 6.

I think Gill won't be ready, it's a fracture so probably will take 3 weeks to heal, but yes if he is ready he definitely plays ahead of DDP. Rohit should anyway stop opening, he just does not have the technique left to play a test match Innings everything off late is just about hitting out of park. Might suit better on number 6, looks ugly at top of the order.

What I have read so far, Gill will be doubtful to start, IMO Rohit would replace Padikkal, Jurel will keep his place, Rana would give way to Akashdeep. And probably Sundar would give way for Ashwin for his last time heroics in pink ball test cricket at Adelaide.

Rohit as opener would be a disaster to moving ball of Starc and Hazelwood. The fall of Prithvi Shaw started from that pink ball test.

Too much of gap between these 2 tests is just horrible. :thumbsdown

Suddenly, from a depleted batting line up in the last test, we've a problem of plenty.

Spare a thought for the Aussies. Their domestic assembly line is running empty and too many in the present line up are either not in good nick or short on confidence. There are only talks of bringing back Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and the likes. That shows how short-handed their batting cupboards are. All we hear now is about a teenager Sam Constas. Unless they pull up their socks sooner, it would be a one way traffic which we cricket lovers aren't hoping for. Having said that, these are still very early days in a 5 match series.

This article by Greg Chappell makes for a good read on their present woes and how Indian cricket have invested heavily in the youngsters.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket...26-p5kthl.html

Let's not count our chicken before they hatch. :)

Last BGT in Australia when India was bowled out for 36 and lost the test, the entire world predicted 4-0 and the scenes were pretty similar.

Teams like Australia don't become bad overnight (just like we weren't hopeless a fortnight ago despite 3-0 whitewash).

Let's win the series first.

One match at a time.

Thanks for the link, was an interesting read, but just after losing one test they can’t be considered completely down and out. Historically speaking they have been always a fighting unit, consider like 11 Virat Kohli’s in your team and all in your face, mentally much much stronger than Indians. They are fierce competitors, that’s why the win against them tastes much sweeter.

Also I noticed Virat being non-captain involved in the last test as his usual old self with aggression, motivation and his antics on the field under Bumrah’s captaincy, I guess that’s good for Indian cricket when we need to match fire with fire, which I didn't see under Rohit’s captaincy, he was quite docile and played just as a player. He was as usual his chirpy best and got fiercely involved in field placements. I guess Shastri said once, he’s a bowlers captain and to win tests wickets are needed. Challenge brings the best out of him, that’s why he’s highly rated by Aussies and also scored a century after ages.

Rohit should plan his batting order in a way when ball is older between 30-80 overs mark, when movement from the pitch or swing is least expected, unless there are some quick fall of wickets. That means around 5/6/7 mark. For new ball his feet movement are always questionable. And finally I hope Jurel isn’t dropped, he looked more organised and a compact player than Padikkal.

Once I looked upon them in awe, the way they played their cricket, with total emotional disconnect and only as fighters, then I hated Aussies after their sandpaper episode and the reason, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”, the first line in the link you shared, makes me think they can stoop to any level for winning and brought disrepute to the cricket.

Was watching SA vs SL and Eng vs NZ test matches, empty stadiums doesn’t speak that well for cricket or for that matter for test matches. It was a sore eye. I don’t want Indians to be the strongest team and no one there to challenge them, which will be damaging to cricket in the long run.

Do we really have plenty though ? I think we will crumble the moment 1 or 2 wickets fell in the first 10 overs. We still only have Jaiswal as dependable batsman. KL did well in two innings, but he has never been a consistent batsman. I don't read too much into Kohli's innings the other day. He came at a point when bowlers were tired and after Jaiswal-KL had negotiated the new ball. I will accept Kohli's return to batting form if he manages to steady the ship after few quick wickets in the first 10 overs.

I didn't and hence this line :)

I'm more relieved than happy that Kohli is amongst the runs, and more importantly, in the first match of the series, unlike the T20 World Cup, where he found his mojo in the title clash, which, of course, has turned out to be his last T20I outing.

While many former Test players, both Indian and Australian, were of the opinion that Kohli would do well in Australia, quite a few of us were really busy questioning the legend's place in the side!

With runs under his belt and confidence restored, Kohli is a beast like no other. Just his presence on the field can lift the entire team. I would be mighty surprised if he doesn’t torment the Aussies in the matches to come. As they say, form is temporary, but class is permanent. There’s much more to look forward to.

No matter how well India performs in the ongoing series, the series loss against New Zealand still hurts, unfortunately. :disappointed

Perth win was amazing.
However, Aussies have never lost a pink ball test in Adelaide. And we all know 36 happened there itself. History has shown us we can never underestimate Australia cos they tend to rise when it matters most. This is why I hope the 10 day break and Rohit's return as Captain don't kill the teams aggressive behaviour of first test.

With Gill confirmed ruled out KL may bat at 3. Don't see Rohit's ego let him bat at 3. Jurel has gotten a golden chance again. Need to make atleast a 50 to show he is worthy of no.6.

NKR did well as a batsman but his bowling is strictly average. Would be better if they play Akashdeep instead. Akashdeep is Shami kind of bowler whose major strength is swing bowling and pink ball will certainly do it. Not convince by Sundar playing and our 2 biggest test winners Ash and Jaddu sitting out. One of them needs to replace him.

Pant is our best test batter since sometime. I love his Flamboyance but he needs to be a bit selective this series. Dismissals like last innings stumping gave a sour taste. Only if he applied a little more patience like he did last BGT he will be great. Once he gets set then he can do his shenanigans.

Kohli was never out of form per se. He was always timing the ball well. Just wasn't getting big scores like he used to and his weakness outside off was exploited a lot. Last test he managed to curb himself. Just need to do same for 4 more games.

Rohit is just like Dhoni in tests. No matter how much he tries, he will never be captain material in this format, period.

Bad captaincy alone can cost us games. We can only hope his return does not mess up this fantastic start to the series.

More problems at galore for Aussies, Hazelwood out from next pink ball test with injury, the main tormentor of Indian team in the last Sydney pink ball test.

Happy times for Indian batsmen. A sigh of relief for Rohit.