After registering a thrilling 31-run victory in the first cricket Test, India will look to continue the momentum when they take on Australia in the second match on a green top at Perth on Friday. The pitch is expected to offer plenty of pace and bounce at the brand new Optus Stadium and that could, on paper, be an advantage for the hosts.
India though have been hit by injuries to key players R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma who are ruled out of the Test. In their absence, pacer Umesh Yadav, all-rounders Hanuma Vihari and Ravindra Jadeja have been included in the 13-man squad.
The BCCI also said that teenage opener Prithvi Shaw was recovering well from his left ankle injury but still undergoing treatment. Shaw too will be out of the second Test.
Ashwin picked up six wickets in the first Test and his absence will be dearly felt by the tourists.
In the batting department, with Rohit out injured, Vihari is likely to play his second Test after his maiden appearance at the Oval, where he scored 56 runs in the fifth Test against England.
Australia were expected to make a few tactical changes to their batting line-up after Aaron Finch’s under fire performance. However, skipper Tim paine has decided to give his previous playing XI another shot. Australia will field the same team that lost in Adelaide. The same bowling line-up will be fielded against the Indians. Hence, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh yet again misses making an outing against India.
Squads:
India (13-man squad):
Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav
Australia:
Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (vc)