India Playing XI 2nd Test: Shreyas Iyer RETURNS, India keep trust in KS Bharat and KL Rahul for Delhi Test, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates

India Playing XI 2^nd Test: IND vs AUS Delhi Test – Australia Batting FIRST: Shreyas Iyer has returned for India in the playing XI for Delhi Test. He replaced Mumbai batter, Suryakumar Yadav. There were no other changes in India playing 11 from the last Test match in Nagpur. Hosts have kept faith in KS Bharat and KL Rahul. A thumping win in Nagpur boosted India’s confidence of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy and seal the WTC Final spot. But it’s Kuldeep Yadav who has missed out despite bagging four-fer in his last match at the venue. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann

Shreyas Iyer has successfully completed his rehab at the National Cricket Academy following his back injury and has been cleared by the BCCI Medical Team

India Playing XI 2nd Test: Shreyas Iyer RETURNS, India to keep trust in KS Bharat in Delhi Test, No place for Kuldeep Yadav, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates

IND vs AUS: WATCH Australia practise on ‘treacherous’ Nagpur centre wicket before travelling to Delhi, batters get BLOODIED by Ashton Agar, Check OUT

Team India would want to retain the winning combination with Arun Jaitley Stadium set to offer a similar turning experience. That means Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will start. But that also means Kuldeep Yadav would have to spend time on bench.

Shubman-Rahul-SKY which duo will play together? – However, the team management must take a call on which duo should play together. Shubman Gill has warmed the bench in Nagpur with KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav getting the nod.

While SKY did not succeed in his only attempt, KL Rahul has a different story altogether. He has a slump in form across all three formats and it’s worrying sign ahead of WTC Final. However, as indicated by a BCCI official to InsideSport, Indian Test vice-captain will retain his place in the XI at least for the 2nd Test.

That brings us to the question of who will play – SKY or Shubman? Considering SKY only got a to play 20 balls, he will keep his place in 3rd Test ahead of Shubman.

India Playing XI 2nd Test: Shreyas Iyer RETURNS, India to keep trust in KS Bharat in Delhi Test, No place for Kuldeep Yadav, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates

What to expect from IND AUS Delhi Test?

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma will continue to open but it will be KL Rahul’s last chance.
If Rahul fumbles again, he is likely to be benched and sent to Irani Cup in favour of Shubman Gill.
As for middle-order, Cheteshwar Pujara will play his 100th Test and hence, he will keep his place with Virat Kohli.
The No 5 debate has been raging but in all probabilities, Suryakumar Yadav will continue with KS Bharat.
Jadeja, Ashwin and Axar will take the lower middle-order slots.
Shami and Siraj will continue as India’s pace spearheads unless any late injury concerns.
Hence, Shardul Thakur will have to spend time on bench again.

KS Bharat or Ishan Kishan? – Another clear favourite is KS Bharat. He has spent over a year and a half on the bench playing cameo to Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha. But now, it’s his time. Despite failing in the 1st Test, Bharat will keep while Ishan will only act as a backup.

4 spinners in Delhi? – Despite enjoying huge success with three spinners in Nagpur, India are unlikely to go 4 spinners route. Arun Jaitley Stadium provides a good batting surface in the first Test and Team India would like to have the attacking edge through seamers with early breeze. In case India lose the toss and get to bat 2nd, two seamers and 6 batters would be a bare minimum. Hence, Kuldeep Yadav will only act as a backup for Delhi Test.

#INDvsAUS #RavindraJadeja pic.twitter.com/SKR2wjs1K4

— Himalayan Guy (@RealHimalayaGuy) February 14, 2023

India Playing XI 2nd Test:

Rohit Sharma (C)
KL Rahul (VC)
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KS Bharat (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
Axar Patel
Mohammad Shami
Mohammed Siraj

India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav.