India Likely XI for 1st Test vs Australia: How will India's likely XI for the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test look? Fans might be pretty curious to know the same with a lot of questions remaining on who might make it to the team and who would not. One of the biggest questions is around the availability of the India national cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, who, as per reports, will not play the Perth Test as he will be expecting a second child. But Gautam Gambhir's press pre-departure conference also did not provide absolute clarity on this issue, with the Team India head coach saying that it will be made known before the start of the series. Who replaces Rohit Sharma if he is not available? Will KL Rahul open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal? Or would Abhimanyu Easwaran get his maiden Test cap? IND vs AUS 2024-25 Schedule: Check List of Fixtures in India vs Australia Test Series With Venues and Match Timings in IST of Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The conditions in Perth would assist fast bowlers more than spinners and will that prompt India to play three pacers, including one-pace bowling all-rounder which can be Nitish Kumar Reddy? Is a debut for Harshit Rana on the cards as well? There are a few questions that will be answered in the days heading into the IND vs AUS 1st Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 but for now, let's look at what the India national cricket team playing XI might look like in Perth.

Top-Order: With Gautam Gambhir throwing his weight behind KL Rahul in the press conference on November 11, it can be assumed that he has a slight edge over Abhimanyu Easwaran when it comes to opening the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal. KL Rahul's experience of batting in tough overseas conditions might just give him the nod ahead of the Bengal veteran, who looks like will need to wait for his opportunity to represent India. With KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening, Shubman Gill will bat at his usual number three spot. If Rohit Sharma is available, KL Rahul will bat in the middle-order, potentially replacing Sarfaraz Khan. On Which Channel India vs Australia Live Telecast in India Will Be Available? How To Watch IND vs AUS BGT 2024-25 Test Series Cricket Matches Free Live Streaming Online?

Middle-Order: Virat Kohli, needless to say, holds the key for India in the middle-order and his performance will have a big say on how much the team can score in a particular innings. Virat Kohli will be followed by Rishabh Pant, who will look to continue from where he left off in Gabba, in 2021. Now, it remains to be seen if India are to persist with Sarfaraz Khan or have Dhruv Jurel, as a pure batter at number six after the latter's impressive show for India A in the second unofficial Test a few days ago.

All-Rounders: While Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin are likely to be the two spinners in the side, it will also be incredibly tough to leave out Washington Sundar after what he did in the New Zealand Test series. The combination will largely dictate who will make it to the playing XI. If India decide to have a pace-heavy bowling attack (three pacers + pace-bowling all-rounder) and play just one spinner (Ravi Jadeja or Ravi Ashwin or Washington Sundar) then Nitish Kumar Reddy can slot in as the pace-bowling all-rounder.

Pacers: Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will lead if Rohit Sharma is unavailable and he along with Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj are likely to form the three-pronged pace attack that the India national cricket team opts for in the Perth Test. However, Mohammed Siraj's recent form, which has not been great, can also make room for a debut for Harshit Rana.

India's Likely Playing XI for 1st BGT Test vs Australia:

KL Rahul*, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan/Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin/Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj/Harshit Rana

*if Rohit Sharma is not available

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 12, 2024 12:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).