Ravi Shastri predicts India XI for first Test against Australia

There has been plenty of conversation surrounding the make-up of the India XI for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, with skipper Rohit Sharma a chance to miss the important ICC World Test Championship contest due to personal reasons.

The potential absence of Rohit leaves plenty of question marks surrounding India's top order, while injury to key pacer Mohammed Shami and the good recent form of spin duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja adds more curiosity as to how selectors will form the XI to take on the Aussies from November 22.

Shastri spoke in depth with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review and the former India head coach mulled over the key decisions facing selectors.

Who opens if Rohit misses?

India have a range of options should Rohit miss that first Test, with veteran batter KL Rahul and fellow right-hander Abhimanyu Easwaran the most likely partners for young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the batting order.

But Shastri believes promoting regular No.3 Shubman Gill to the role of opener might be the best call on the likely bouncy wicket in Perth.

"That's a tough one and selectors have a choice,” Shastri said.

“You can push Shubman (Gill) back up the order and he has opened in the past in Australia.

“Otherwise, you'll have to then make an alternative. Easwaran hasn't done that well (for India A in Australia). But it's how he's batting in the nets, how Rahul is batting in the nets. But that Shubman Gill option is also there."

Form in the nets important

Shastri coached India to their most recent Test series success in Australia in 2020/21 and is a strong believer of picking players that perform well in the nets in the lead-up to a Test match.

The India legend said he would be keeping a close eye on all the batters in training that were chasing a spot in the XI if he was still in charge.

"I used to always watch footwork as a coach," he said.

"Sometimes runs are not important, but if a player is moving well, and if the feet are moving nicely, and you try and understand his game and you realize if he has the game for those conditions, if he has the right kind of shots for those kinds of pitches. These are the things you've got to look at when you start picking a side overseas.

"It's horses for courses in many ways. Most of the team will pick themselves, but there'll be one or two cases where you might have to just go and dig deep and go with gut feeling.

"I would be watching them like a hawk in the nets, the batters and the bowlers, because for me as a bowler, rhythm is important. And as a batter, again, tempo and rhythm is important."

Composed Jurel gives selectors a dilemma

While Rishabh Pant seems certain to get the nod as wicket-keeper, back-up keeper Dhruv Jurel put in a strong argument for selection in Perth with a standout display with the bat for India A in their recent contest against Australia A at the MCG.

Jurel looked a class above, contributing scores of 80 and 68 in a low-scoring clash and Shastri thinks the 23-year-old looked composed enough to win a fourth Test cap in Perth.

"I think he can easily play as a (specialist) batter,” Shastri said.

“What impressed me most was his temperament, his calmness when the chips were down and the tightness he brought to his game - especially under pressure.

“Under pressure, you can see a lot of players struggling. You can see them being fidgety. You can see them being all over the shop. You can see those nerves coming through. But in this guy's case, his temperament stood out.

"Whenever the chips were down, even in that series against England (earlier this year) he stepped up to the plate. So I like what I saw and I'll be quite prepared to give him a go if he's in good nick.

"I think seeing his form, he got 80 and 60, will do his confidence a world of good.

“And he's got the range of shots as well. It's not that he's just a blocker there, he can play shots. He can bat with the tail as well. See, that's why it becomes important. If you push Shubman up the order, it gives you more options in the middle order. So that's how India could look to balance it if Rohit is missing."

How many spin options can you fit in the XI

Shastri is a long-time fan of veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, while left-armer Ravindra Jadeja and inexperienced tweaker Washington Sundar were joint leading wicket-takers during India's recent Test series at home against New Zealand.

Despite the bevy of strong spin options, Shastri believes only one specialist spinner is required in Perth and thinks Jadeja might get the nod over Ashwin.

"I would go with one spinner," Shastri suggested.

"I was in Perth last year when Pakistan played Australia. And in those conditions, to have two spinners is a luxury. You need pace because that track has pace and bounce. And you need the bowlers to exploit it and keep the pressure on the batsman. Because even if you're talking of spin, you use them sporadically. It was always a tough choice, even when I was the coach.

"For which one to pick now, Ashwin or Jadeja. So then again, it's current form over there. Jadeja brings a lot to the table with his fielding as well as batting. So he would get the edge more often than not overseas. But it's again how they see it and what the form looks like in the nets.”

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Who partners Bumrah in India’s pace attack

With Mohammed Shami not in the touring party as he continues his recovery from injury, India have a decision to make when it comes to which two bowlers partner pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in their seam attack.

Fiery pacer Mohammed Siraj picked up some big wickets against Australia in the World Test Championship Final at The Oval last year and appears certain to feature, while Shastri would give first chance to inexperienced right-armer Akash Deep and would consider Nitesh Reddy as another option.

"I think the three I would pick straight away is Aakash Deep, (Mohammed) Siraj and Bumrah and then they (selectors) have to see the balance,” Shastri began.

“Do they want two spinners? Do they want to risk going in with two spinners or do they want to take Nitesh Reddy? Nitesh Reddy will have to do a job like Shardul Thakur did as the fourth seamer. He can bat a bit, give the bowlers a little bit of respite so that they can bowl in short spells…and be someone who will have to be good for those eight to 10 overs that he bowls. So that would be my pick, seeing the conditions."

Ravi Shastri's predicted XI:* Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja/Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.

* In the event Rohit Sharma is unavailable and subject to form in the leadup