IND vs AUS 1st Test, Toss: Australia win toss & opt to bat first; India field 4 pacers

IND vs AUS 1st Test: Indian skipper Virat Kohli opted to go with Hanuma Vihari and Umesh replacing injured Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin in the side

IND vs AUS 2nd Test, Day 1: Australia have won the toss and elected to bat first.

The 2^nd India vs Australia Test match at Opus Stadium in Perth begins with Australian skipper winning the toss and opting to bat first. On Thursday, the hosts announced their playing XI. They were expected to make a few changes after Aaron Finch’s under fire performance. However, skipper Tim Paine has decided to give his previous playing XI another shot.

“Look obviously it is very warm today and I said this wicket, at the press conference as well, will crack up under the hot weather. Everyone has recovered really well and raring to go. We are happy to be batting first. We are gonna back our boys. We are trying to create an environment which is going to be a bit stable. It is great to be here as it is an amazing stadium,” said Tim Paine after winning the toss.

On the other hand, Indian skipper Virat Kohli opted to go with Hanuma Vihari and Umesh replacing injured Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin in the side. That means they will go with four pacers and a part-time spinner in the form of Vihari. He stated he would also have batted if the toss results were in his favour.

“We would have batted as well. But not a bad thing to bowl on day 1 on a wicket which has a lot of grass. We are happy with whatever we are going to do,” Kohli said.

“It is a fresh Test. Just another Test match for us. We are not taking anything complacently. We have to work hard for another victory. We are taking the confidence from the last game but not the scoreline ahead,” he added.

Playing XI:

India (Playing XI): Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli(c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant(w), Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine(w/c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood