India will take on Australia in the first Test of the four-match series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, on Thursday, February 9. Middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav was handed his maiden Test cap on Day one of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023 series opener.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. The Pat Cummins-led team made two changes to their line-up as Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood were replaced by Peter Handscomb and debutant spinner Todd Murphy. Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made his comeback into the playing XI after recovering from the injury, while Suryakumar Yadav made his debut.
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Shreyas Iyer was not fit for the first Test match, and he is recovering from a back injury. He was replaced by Suryakumar Yadav at No. 5 in the middle order. Shreyas missed the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand and was asked to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for rehabilitation.
Suryakumar Yadav’s role will be crucial in the middle order with the absence of inform batters Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. The Mubmai batter is likely to replicate his T20I form in red-ball cricket and seal his spot in the middle order in the longer format.
The 32-year-old plays for domestic giants Mumbai in the domestic cricket. He played 79 first-class matches before making his debut and scored 5549 runs at a healthy average of 44.75. The right handed batter smashed 14 hundreds and 28 half centuries and a best score of 200.
Watch: Twitter Reacts After Suryakumar Yadav’s Debut In The First Test
A proud moment in the career of Suryakumar Yadav. pic.twitter.com/6GtFJQGnGL
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 9, 2023
Suryakumar Yadav & KS Bharat will make their debuts in Nagpur. Both of them have had good domestic experience. Surya made his FC debut in 2010 & Bharat in 2013. Interesting to see Surya's approach in Test cricket. Can be the X-factor. Will surely look to attack spin
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) February 9, 2023
Suryakumar Yadav to make his Test debut. Stoked for him.
KS Bharat also making his debut, which is very exciting too.
India going in with five batsmen, and Shubman Gill not one of them – not many would have predicted that. #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/FbBUI5sdLk— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) February 9, 2023
Congratulations to KS Bharat and Suryakumar Yadav on receiving caps for India. Indeed,a special moment for both of them. Go well! #BorderGavaskarTrophy
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) February 9, 2023
After 12 years of domestic cricket and 80 first class games, Suryakumar Yadav makes his Test debut for India.
Ravi Shastri hands him the Test cap.
KS Bharat also makes his Test debut with Pant absent.
Go well guys 🇮🇳🙌
— Anuj Nitin Prabhu 🏏 (@APTalksCricket) February 9, 2023
Suryakumar and strong wrists, cracks shots square on both sides. That is a decent way of playing spin on turners. You dont expect too many runs down the ground.
Not for once trying to hype. He may fail too. But his game isn't bad for a turner.
AUS would be happy, won the toss.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) February 9, 2023
I'm finding it pretty weird that India have gone with Suryakumar Yadav in this Test ahead of Shubman Gill, who has been in smashing form across formats! Should have let SKY do what he was doing best in T20Is. #INDvsAUS
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) February 9, 2023
Suryakumar yadav hard work finally paid off,From getting a chance to debut at age of 30 to becoming No.1 T20 Batsman in such a short time, and now getting a chance to play in Test Formet.
— Aʙнɪ࿐♡ (@hitman_Rohit_07) February 9, 2023
3 Debuts in Nagpur Test match:
•For India – Suryakumar Yadav & KS Bharat.
•For Australia – Todd Murphy.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) February 9, 2023
Travis Head being left out and Suryakumar Yadav being picked are both indications of just how much modern teams are willing to go horses for courses rather than stick to established XIs. #INDvsAUS
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) February 9, 2023
SuryaKumar Yadav Test Debut Today
Many Congratulations
— Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@VibhuBhola) February 9, 2023
Interesting selection calls from both teams! Handscomb replaces Head, Murphy plays for Australia.
And Suryakumar Yadav playing ahead of Shubman Gill for India. #INDvAUS— Akash Fotedar (@akashfotedar5) February 9, 2023
So congratulations to KS Bharat and Suryakumar Yadav for their debuts. 11 have been selected, we got to hope that these 11 do well, even if we don't agree to it. Got to win the toss and bat first. Lyon and Cummins can be our achilles heel.
As much as players, fans are nervous 2
— Shankspeare™ (@Goofyshanks) February 9, 2023
Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah
