BCCI finally announced it’s playing for the first day/night pink ball Test against Australia on 17th December.
The confusion was cleared on 16th December between Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw for the opening partnership as the Indian Cricket Team has released its playing XI and it is believed that Virat Kohli went with Prithvi Shaw along with Mayank Agarwal for the opening partnership. Shubman Gill has to wait for his Test debut, though he hit a half-century in the pink-ball warm-up match. Mayank Agarwal seems to be untouchable as a test opener, which can be a bit assuring to the Men In Blue.
In the middle order, Hanuma Vihari found a spot, who have to carry a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. Earlier there were a lot of controversies regarding Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha, as wicket-keeper, but the latter got a place in the playing XI. The middle slot seems to be very powerfully built as Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihara, Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara will be coming in.
Moreover, with a brawny bowling lineup with, R Ashwin as the solitary spin specialist, and the pace trinity of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in addition has lessened the worry.
Any day-night game has to do with grass on the pitch to protect the pink ball. Although Kookaburra has made considerable advancements so that the batsmen don’t face much problems anymore but there will be still plenty of movements early on.
Although Virat Kohli will leave for home after the first Test on paternity leave and Ajinkya Rahane will take up the role of captain from the second game onwards, which will start from 26th December, Kohli would like to give Team India a solid start to the Test match series.
Another good news that we should keep in mind is that Rohit Sharma will be back with the team and will play the other Test matches.
