India tour of Australia Nov'20-Jan'21

[SaiSrini]

The fact that KL Rahul is not playing this pink ball warm up match, suggests that he might not really be in the frame to open at Adelaide. Rahul did not play the first warm up game also (obviously because he was playing the T20 which happened same day). I guess the management is looking at either of Shaw or Gill to partner Mayank at the top. And from today's second innings show, looks like Gill might have nailed that spot.

I think Rahul will likely come in at No. 4 for the second test when Kohli leaves. I think Prithvi has just knocked himself down with a poor show in these warm up games. And as much as I want to see a pure traditionalist keeper-batsman like Saha play, I think Pant should start off at Adelaide. I guess the lesser demands on keeping in non-subcontinental countries and Pant's flashy aggressive stroke play makes him the favorite. Already social media is talking about how Pant could be a Gilchrist for India in tests Also Pant playing gives India its only left hander in the batting line up and that could be an advantage

Mayank
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Vihari
Saini
Umesh
Bumrah
Shami

The XI for Adelaide according to me. For the pink ball game, I am inclined to go with 4 pacers plus a part timer in Vihari.

 

[Aalay]

The fact that KL Rahul is not playing this pink ball warm up match, suggests that he might not really be in the frame to open at Adelaide. Rahul did not play the first warm up game also (obviously because he was playing the T20 which happened same day). I guess the management is looking at either of Shaw or Gill to partner Mayank at the top. And from today's second innings show, looks like Gill might have nailed that spot.

I think Rahul will likely come in at No. 4 for the second test when Kohli leaves. I think Prithvi has just knocked himself down with a poor show in these warm up games. And as much as I want to see a pure traditionalist keeper-batsman like Saha play, I think Pant should start off at Adelaide. I guess the lesser demands on keeping in non-subcontinental countries and Pant's flashy aggressive stroke play makes him the favorite. Already social media is talking about how Pant could be a Gilchrist for India in tests Also Pant playing gives India its only left hander in the batting line up and that could be an advantage

Mayank
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Vihari
Saini
Umesh
Bumrah
Shami

The XI for Adelaide according to me. For the pink ball game, I am inclined to go with 4 pacers plus a part timer in Vihari.

I agree with your point about KL Rahul. I don't think the management is looking at him for the opening spot in the first test. Even though I love watching KL Rahul play, I don't think he deserves the spot more than Gill right now. Rahul hasn't done anything substantial since being left out of the test team in the longer format to force his way in. It is very unfortunate for Vihari since he just got a century but I would still like to see Ashwin keep his place in the final 11. So I would bring Ashwin in place of Vihari but I do think it is highly likely that we will see the team you have posted in the first test.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

India's talent and depth is mind numbing. Good lord Shubman Gill!! The timing and footwork both off front and specially backfoot is outstanding!

KL
Monk
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Gill
Pant
Jadeja
Shami
Siraj
Bumrah

I'm picking Siraj ahead of Saini just because it's a pink ball test and I think he gets that very slight nibble off the seam. But, I think Umesh will play. If Jadeja is not fit, Ashwin plays.

 

[Yash.]

I mostly agree with your lineup there @LiveLoveABD but I don’t think India is gonna play Gill, who’s an opening batsman, in the middle order, especially when Vihari, the guy who’s supposed to be at that position, scored a century in the tour match

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I mostly agree with your lineup there @LiveLoveABD but I don’t think India is gonna play Gill, who’s an opening batsman, in the middle order, especially when Vihari, the guy who’s supposed to be at that position, scored a century in the tour match

I agree with you. But this is the team I want to see.

Tell me something and pardon my ignorance but is Gill an opener? I always thought he was a top order batsman like 3/4?

 

[Bevab]

I agree with you. But this is the team I want to see.

Tell me something and pardon my ignorance but is Gill an opener? I always thought he was a top order batsman like 3/4?

Gill's playing style resembles a top order bat indeed but he has mostly played as an opener for Punjab with excellent success. The biggest weakness that any accumulator, let alone an aggressive one has is susceptibility to the moving ball and if Gill is good enough to negate that as an opener, we have a truly generational talent on our hands.

Been asking for him to be integrated into the team since last year when he was killing it at all levels of cricket and can't wait to see him in action!

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Bumrah bowled a nasty spell to both McDermott & Wildermiluth

Quite unplayable were those deliveries.

Others tried to do the same but the two batters got used to it & pummeled those short stuff but Geez some of those delivery from Bumrah were really scary.

 

[Ashutosh.]

KL
Monk
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Gill
Pant
Jadeja
Shami
Siraj
Bumrah

Ashwin is better than Jadeja in test.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Bumrah bowled a nasty spell to both McDermott & Wildermiluth

Quite unplayable were those deliveries.

Others tried to do the same but the two batters got used to it & pummeled those short stuff but Geez some of those delivery from Bumrah were really scary.

I couldn't find that out anywhere

 

[Bigby Wolf]

I couldn't find that out anywhere

I guess that spell from Bumrah when Wildermuth was around 40s.

Good 3-4 overs I watched it live.

 

[Aislabie]

Ashwin is better than Jadeja in test.

Statistically he's not, although both are excellent. Jadeja's VARP is significantly better (and actually one of the very best of all time), but if you've two spinners of that quality, there's a strong argument for playing both regardless of conditions

 

[SaiSrini]

India's talent and depth is mind numbing. Good lord Shubman Gill!! The timing and footwork both off front and specially backfoot is outstanding!

KL
Monk
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Gill
Pant
Jadeja
Shami
Siraj
Bumrah

I'm picking Siraj ahead of Saini just because it's a pink ball test and I think he gets that very slight nibble off the seam. But, I think Umesh will play. If Jadeja is not fit, Ashwin plays.

Two opinions in the same day about someone suggesting that Gill bat at 6. The first one was from someone who's running to become the next chief selector of Indian cricket (Ajit Agarkar). Interesting!

My humble opinion - there is only one Monk in Indian cricket and that's Murali Vijay. Maybe "Myonk"

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Gill's backfoot shots have left me salivating. I really want to see him play.

 

[SaiSrini]

Tough tours like this can potentially create the next batting legend. Sachin was born out of that 89 tour of Pakistan, Ganguly/Dravid were born out of that legendary 96 England tour, Laxman was born out of that Australia tour in 2000, etc. That's also one of the reasons why I believe Gill should be a certain starter for Adelaide and should be persisted with for this series, like how Virat got his chances in that horror tour of Australia (2011). Considering that he is a top order batsman and mostly an opener for Punjab, I would punt on him to open with Mayank. Rahul obviously should come in for the 2nd test when Kohli leaves. Rahul playing at 4 will avoid the sameness of Pujara-Rahane-Vihari batting one after the other. I would even push Pant up at 6 and Vihari at 7. But Vihari is certainly a guy who will be very useful lower down the order. I can already see the glimpses of VVS in Vihari, the way he plays.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Tough tours like this can potentially create the next batting legend. Sachin was born out of that 89 tour of Pakistan, Ganguly/Dravid were born out of that legendary 96 England tour, Laxman was born out of that Australia tour in 2000, etc. That's also one of the reasons why I believe Gill should be a certain starter for Adelaide and should be persisted with for this series, like how Virat got his chances in that horror tour of Australia (2011). Considering that he is a top order batsman and mostly an opener for Punjab, I would punt on him to open with Mayank. Rahul obviously should come in for the 2nd test when Kohli leaves. Rahul playing at 4 will avoid the sameness of Pujara-Rahane-Vihari batting one after the other. I would even push Pant up at 6 and Vihari at 7. But Vihari is certainly a guy who will be very useful lower down the order. I can already see the glimpses of VVS in Vihari, the way he plays.

I think anyone that says KL should not be a part of any India XI is being a complete cuckoo. He's an opener and not a leggo toy that should simply adjust anywhere the team needs in any format. I agree about Gill, but Rahul is clearly in the top three batters in India in any format and has a test hundred in two of the four SENA countries. KL simply has to open with Monk.

Also, regardless of who plays I really hope people are not thrown out after 1/2 tests. Give them 4 tests to fail and in any event, the pink ball will hoop around and circumstances more than skills determine if you can make runs. If you ask me, Vihari is a walking wicket but this management will 100% play him.