India Playing 11 vs Australia- 1st Test, India tour of Australia 2024

India's national cricket team arrives in Australia for Border Gavaskar Trophy this week with more questions than answers after suffering a humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand - their first home series defeat in 12 years.

The series, starting November 22 in Perth presents multiple challenges for India. Captain Rohit Sharma's absence due to the birth of his second child and Shubman Gill's thumb injury have further complicated their preparation.

With the World Test Championship final hanging in the balance, they must not only perform exceptionally but also hope for favorable results from other teams.

Australian conditions have traditionally been tough for cricketers, and this tour becomes even more challenging given their recent poor form

India squad

Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal

*Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will be unavailable for selection for the first test.

India Playing 11 vs Australia- 1st Test, India tour of Australia 2024

Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are likely to play as openers in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy's first Test against Australia.

Also read: IND vs AUS Match Preview- 1st Test, India tour of Australia 2024

With the regular skipper, Rohit Sharma out of the action and Shubman Gill sidelined for a thumb injury, Rahul and Jaiswal will be under tremendous pressure as the combination of the experienced Rahul and the young Jaiswal Look to overcome Australia's potent pace attack and set the tone for the country in the series-opener.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (W), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadesh, Nitish Kumar Reddy

There is a possibility that Devdutt Padikkal who has shown promise on A tour of Australia bat at no 3 and season campaigner Virat Kohli who batted at No. 3 in the last match against New Zealand will bat at no 4.

Rishabh Pant will be behind the wickets and will bat no 5. Dhruv Jurel, who played in the second unofficial Test for the A team may be included as a specialist batsman.

Among the all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja is the clear favorite after such experience and impact with the bat, while debutante Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to add pace to both the attack and batting order.

Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah

The bowling attack for Men in Blue in the Perth Test is expected to feature Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Jasprit Bumrah. This trio will spearhead the pace department, with Siraj and Bumrah bringing their experience and Harshit Rana is likely to be handed a debut cap after an impressive showing in an Intra-Squad match in Perth.