IND vs AUS Tests: India Likely To Go With R Ashwin As Lone Spinner In BGT Opener At Perth | Report

India are reportedly likely to go with R Ashwin as team's lone spinner against Australia in the first BGT Test at Perth.

India will play Australia in two days’ time for the much-anticipated India vs Australia 1st Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series, starting from November 22 (Friday) at Perth’s Optus Stadium. With the Indian team set to have some key players missing in the BGT opener, the Men in Blue are reportedly set to field just one spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, alongside three pacers in the 1st IND vs AUS Test at Perth.

According to an Indian Express report, R Ashwin is likely to be chosen as the sole spinner for the series opener in Perth. The Gautam Gambhir-coached team is leaning towards including the veteran off-spinner as the sole spinner in the playing 11 influenced by Australia's expected inclusion of at least three left-handed batters in their line-up, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey.

ALSO ON ABP Live | India Beat China 1-0 In Women's Asian Champions Trophy Final To Clinch Record-Equalling Third Title

India Mulling To Go With Three-Pacer One-Spinner Attack

The Optus Stadium pitch is expected to offer significant assistance to fast bowlers, making a pace-heavy attack the obvious choice. India are reportedly considering a combination featuring three seamers, a fast-bowling all-rounder in debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, and a lone spinner in Ashwin. Australia's batting lineup includes left-handers Khawaja, Head and Carey, against whom Ashwin has an impressive track record.

Despite his illustrious career, Ashwin's stats in Australia have been modest. He has played 10 Test matches Down Under, taking 39 wickets at an average of 42.15.

For the unversed, Rohit Sharma, team India’s regular captain, is set to miss the Perth Test as he has decided to stay back with the family after the birth of his second child. India’s no. three, Shubman Gill, is also unlikely for the IND vs AUS 1st Test as he sustained a thumb fracture during India’s match simulation practice.

India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.