The first Test between India and Australia is all set to begin at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday morning. The stage is set and so are the teams. After four long years, Kohli and his men are back in the Australian backyard for a 4-match Test series. It has been a decade that India won a test match here. However, this time, the visitors have a pretty good opportunity to outclass the Aussies in their home.
The Indian skipper is confident that "lines won't be crossed" by either India or Australia as far as on-field behaviour is concerned but at the same time doesn't want players to just show up without emotion. Kohli hinted that there could be a bit of verbal banter without violating the 'Code of Conduct' which had happened in some of the earlier series.
India have already announced a 12-man squad for the first Test from which the final Playing XI will be selected. KL Rahul and Murali Vijay will open the Indian batting and the tail will be supported by R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. The middle-order lies upon the shoulders of skipper Kohli, his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, Pujara, stumper Rishabh pant. But a straight shoot-out between Vihari and Rohit for No.6 slot still remains which depends on the requirement of a part-time bowler in the game.
On the other hand, the Aussies have also announced their playing XI. Skipper Tim Paine confirmed that Victoria batsman Marcus Harris will make his Test debut while Peter Handscomb will play ahead of vice-captain Mitchell Marsh.
Squads:
Australia Playing XI:
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)
India 12-man squad:
Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah