That India is travelling for a four-Test series in Australia with a jumbo 18-member squad suggests the selectors and the team-management want as many options as possible.
The injury to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s right thumb — it will keep him out of the first Test beginning in Brisbane from December 4 — has led to ’keeper-batsman Naman Ojha being selected as cover for Wriddhiman Saha.
Although Saha, always smart with his glove-work, is the automatic choice to replace Dhoni in the first Test, the Indian team needs Ojha just in case the Bengal ’keeper runs into injury concerns ahead of the opener.
Of course, the 31-year-old Ohja can also double up as an additional top-order batsman. The Madhya Pradesh cricketer’s run of scores for India ‘A’ against Australia ‘A’ in the two ‘Test’ series down under in 2013 might have swung things in his favour. Those who watched the series believe he can handle bounce with his back-foot play. The tall and upright Ojha had scores of 219 not out, 101 not out and 110 in the two matches, both in Brisbane.
Ojha, however, will return to India once Dhoni joins the team.
Picked on recent form
K.L. Rahul, an organised batsman, makes it to the squad as the reserve opener. The 22-year-old Karnataka cricketer has been picked on both form and potential — his impressive century-in-each-innings feat in the Duleep Trophy final for South against Central recently demanded attention.
The selectors have also concluded that an additional middle-order batsman might prove more useful to the side than someone who does a bit of everything like Stuart Binny.
The left-handed Suresh Raina, who last figured in a Test in the 2012 home series against New Zealand, receives a look-in. Given his past difficulties in coping with well-directed short-pitched bowling from the pacemen, Raina’s selection ahead of Ambati Rayudu is debatable.
But then, it should not be forgotten that Raina did handle the lifting deliveries from the pacey Fidel Edwards with some success on the lively tracks of Jamaica and Barbados in the 2011 Test series; he had scores of 82 and 53 in the two Tests. It is learnt the team-management feels the 27-year-old southpaw has a lot more to offer in Tests than his present 768 runs in 17 matches at 28.44.
The wise men have also chosen a third spinner — R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja being the other two — to lend the attack greater variety. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma achieves good bounce — an essential ingredient on the surfaces down under — and delivers an effective googly. Sharma might have got the nod over Amit Mishra since he is quicker off the pitch.
Five-man pace attack
By selecting both Varun Aaron and Mohammed Shami, the selectors have shown the belief that both would recover from their fitness concerns in time for the first Test. The side has five pacemen; Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar being the others. With Aaron, Yadav, Ishant and Shami around, the attack is not lacking in firepower. Will the pack bowl with control and adapt to the conditions?
The absence of a left-arm seamer hurts the attack though.
Being named skipper for the first Test could just be the motivation Virat Kohli needs to regain his Test form. Yet, will the team have adequate preparation with only two two-day practice games scheduled ahead of the first Test?
Squads:
Team for Australia Tests: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, R Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron.
Team for last 2 ODIs against Sri Lanka: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Axar Patel, Karn Sharma, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Vinay Kumar, Kedar Jadhav.
| Mahendra Singh Dhoni One of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history. He has played 88 Tests and has scored 4808 runs at an average of 38.46 with 6 centuries. He is the wicket-keeper and had taken 243 catches apart from 37 stumpings. |
| Virat Kohli The vice-captain of Team India. He will be leading the side in the first Test against Australia in the absence of M.S. Dhoni starting on December 4, 2014. He has played 29 Tests and scored 1855 runs at an average of 39.46 |
| Shikhar Dhawan The left-handed batsman made a swashbuckling debut against Australia. He has played 10 Tests and scored 656 runs at an average of 38.58 |
| Murali Vijay The right-handed opening batsman had made good contributions in the recently concluded England tour. He has played 27 Tests and scored 1706 runs at an average of 36.29 |
| K.L. Rahul The right-handed opener has made healthy contributions for Karnataka and South Zone. He has played 27 First-Class matches at an average of 51.21. He is making his debut series against the Australians |
| Suresh Raina Made a good debut in Test cricket, but was not selected for the Tests for his indifferent form. A match-winner in ODIs and T20s, he is returning to the Test team for the Australian tour. He has played 17 Tests, scored 768 runs at an average of 28.44 |
| Wriddhiman Saha The second wicket-keeper of the team Wriddhiman Saha has played 2 Tests, scored 74 runs at an average of 18.50 |
| Naman Ojha Naman Ojha is also making his Test debut for the Australian series. Ojha has played 103 First Class matches and has scored 7165 at an average of 43.42 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin The off-spinner has proved he is a budding all-rounder. His role as a batsman in Tests has added strength to the Indian batting line-up. The off-spinner has played 21 Tests and scored 894 runs at an average of 38.86. Besides this, he has taken 107 wickets at an average of 28.65 with 7 for 103 being his best. |
| Karn Sharma Karn Sharma proved his worth in the IPL matches. He is also a useful batsman down the order. In his 34 First class matches he has scored 1087 runs at an averag eof 25.88. Sharma also has taken 66 wickets at average of 28.87 with 8 for 97 being his best. |
| Ravindra Jadeja Jadeja is an useful all-rounder down the order. He has proved his mettle in the ODIs and T20s. On his day, he is a match-winner. Jadeja has played 12 Tests, scored 364 runs at an average of 21.41. He has taken 45 wickets at an average of 30.37 with 6 for 138 being his best. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar A genial medium-pace bowler has proved his mettle in the recently concluded England tour. Besides taking wickets, he is also a useful batsman down the order. In 11 Tests, he has scored 343 runs at an average of 24.50. He has taken 28 wickets at an average of 30.25 with 6 for 82 being his best. |
| Mohammed Shami Shami, on his day is a match-winner. His bowling has been appreciated by one and all. In 9 Tests, he has taken 32 wickets at an average of 36.31 with 5 for 47 being his best. |
| Cheteshwar Pujara Pujara's debut was indeed an interesting tale. In his 24 innings, he has made 6 hundreds and 5 fifties with 206 being his highest. He had a mediocre tour against England. Pujara and Kohli are the ones who are expected to shoulder the middle-order for India against the Australians |
| Ajinkya Rahane Another good prospect for Team India, Rahane made healthy contributions against England and South Africa. In 10 Tests, he has scored 678 runs at an average of 39.88. Rahul Dravid describes him as the future of the Indian cricket |
| Rohit Sharma Another elegant batsman who can smash any opponents on his day. Despite having played 124 ODIs, he has played only 7 Tests, scored 489 runs at an average of 48.90 |
| Ishant Sharma Ishant Sharma is the experienced bowler in this team. Who can forget his threatening bowling to Ricky Ponting when India toured Australia? In 58 Tests, he has taken 178 wickets at an average of 36.75 with 7 for 74 being his best. |
| Umesh Yadav Another paceman who is a match winner on his day. Umesh Yadav has played 9 Tests, took 32 wickets at an average of 32.50 with 5 for 93 being his best |
| Varun Aaron The injury-prone cricketer has proved his worth in the recent past for the Indian Team. He has played only 3 Tests, took only 8 wickets with 3 for 97 being his best. But the best is yet to come for Varun Aaron. |
