Battle of the giants on the cards as Australia take on India at the Adelaide Oval

The main course is here. The Border-Gavaskar series is all set to kick-off with a Pink ball Test match at the iconic Adelaide Oval. In what will be Captain Kohli’s only Test match on the tour Down under, India will be playing Australia in a day-night Test match. The time for all the talk is done, and it is time for the Cricketing action to talk center-stage.

Team India have already announced their eleven a day in advance, Prithvi Shaw making the cut among the four choices of openers along with Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal. The Indian middle-order boasts of a solid look with three experienced batters manning the core in Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane. Wriddhiman Saha has been entrusted with the gloves. 

While there was much debate over who will be India’s third seamer, Umesh Yadav’s experience seems to have given him the edge over his other two RCB teammates - Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj, while Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah complete a scary-looking fast bowling attack. Add R Ashwin to the mix, and the team has a well-rounded look.

The Aussies, on the other hand, appear to be plagued by injuries. Fiery opener David Warner is MIA with a yet-to-be-healed adductor injury, while his chosen opening partner Will Pucowski suffered a concussion, and has been ruled out of the first Test. The onus will once again be on the bromance of Steve Smith and his apprentice Marnus Labuschagne to carry the middle order. Cameron Green is in line to receive his Baggy Green. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon complete a well-rounded bowling lineup. 

Ajinkya Rahane, the vice-captain of the team was rightfully wary of the perils of the “Twilight zone”,  and the toss could play a key role in deciding which team comes out on top. Between them, India and Australia have a 100% win record in Pink-ball Tests, which is definitely due to change over the next 5 days. No matter the result, the Test match at the Adelaide Oval offers a mouthwatering prospect for Cricket lovers across the globe.