India introduced two debutants in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia in Perth. Harshit Rana joined the squad as the third pacer, while Nitish Reddy featured as a fast-bowling all-rounder.
It was a moment of pride for both players making their Test debuts on Australian soil. Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli handed the debut cap to Rana, while seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin presented the cap to Reddy.
WHAT IT MEANS! 🇮🇳🥹
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 22, 2024
Proud moments for young #NitishKumarReddy & #HarshitRana as they receive their maiden Test caps for #TeamIndia. Go well, boys! 👏
📺 #AUSvINDOnStar 👉 1st Test, Day 1, LIVE NOW! #ToughestRivalry pic.twitter.com/3vaXegIt4m
Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah opted to bat first after winning the toss. In an unexpected move, experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were left out, with Washington Sundar chosen as the sole spin option.
India also made adjustments to the batting order. Rohit Sharma was unavailable following the birth of his second child, leading to KL Rahul opening the innings. Shubman Gill missed out due to a thumb injury, allowing Devdutt Padikkal to step in at number three. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel was picked over Sarfaraz Khan for a middle-order spot.
India’s reshuffled XI reflects a blend of emerging talent and experienced campaigners, aiming for a strong start to the series in challenging Australian conditions.
