Australia vs India 2020: 4th Test Ideal Predicted 11 for Indian Team

Australia vs India 2020: Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hanuma Vihari ruled out as we look at the ideal predicted 11 for Team India for the 4th Test.

There was no Virat Kohli, the bowling trio of Shami, Ishant, and Umesh was missing, the key all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja couldn’t bat or bowl in the second innings, key batsman, Hanuma Vihari got injured while batting. Even with all these factors, Team India’s performance so far on this tour goes down as one of the best in any overseas tour. 

The spectacular show at SCG means, the series stays levelled at 1-1 with 1 final match to go at Gabba. While India continue to improve their performance match-on-match, their injury list, unfortunately, keeps increasing. The latest to add to the injury list are Jasprit Bumrah, Hanuma Vihari, and Ravindra Jadeja. With this, there are 3 confirmed changes that are expected in the Indian line-up for the last test. 

Unfortunately, Team India can’t even name a replacement at this stage due to quarantine rule in Australia. So, from the list of available players, who could be the ideal players replacing them? Let’s find out in ideal predicted 11 for Team India for the 4th Test vs Australia.  

Team India’s squad for 4th Test Match:

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Cheteshwar Pujara, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant (WK), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Navdeep Saini, R. Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, and T Natarajan. 

Ideal Playing 11 – Team India

Openers: Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill

Team India’s new batting pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave some fantastic starts in both the innings of the third Test match. While the pair managed 70 in the first innings, they bettered that with 71 in the second innings, which is the 3rd-highest opening partnership by Team India in 4th innings in Australia. 

Shubman Gill’s maturity is something that standouts. He has looked calm and composed in both the innings, and the performance he has given, he doesn’t look like he is playing only his second Test match. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma too has silenced all the critics, who had doubted his ability as an opener in overseas Tests.

Middle-order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (C) & Mayank Agarwal 

Continuing with his approach of predominant blocking, Cheteshwar Pujara silenced his critics by scoring valuable runs in both the innings. Such approach gets more appreciation when runs come in plenty, but when it doesn’t come, the knock is often criticised. Nevertheless, Cheteshwar Pujara would once again be an important member at Gabba.

Ajinkya Rahane should continue to lead the side and also bat at 4 in the absence of Virat Kohli. While he couldn’t do much at SCG scoring 22 and 4 respectively, Rahane will have to repeat his Melbourne heroics to give India a chance to dominate at Gabba. Team India would expect a lot from Rahane in the final Test. 

In the absence of Hanuma Vihari, who is ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury, Team India will have to play one of the openers, Mayank Agarwal or Prithvi Shaw in the middle-order. Mayank is definitely the fore-runner to replace Vihari, however, he too is under injury scanner, the results of which are awaited. If not Mayank, Shaw should replace Vihari to play at 5.

Lower-order: Rishabh Pant & Wriddhiman Saha 

The absence of settled middle-order batsman, Hanuma Vihari and World’s number 2 Test all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja means Team India can’t risk playing 5 bowlers on Gabba pitch. They would need to strengthen their batting, and hence Saha at 7 would be an apt choice. So, Rishabh Pant can play as a specialist batsman and Saha can take up the keeping duties. 

Bowlers: Ravichandran Ashwin Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj & T Natarajan.

In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, the responsibility of long spells and spin bowling shall be heavily dependant on Ashwin, who has till now done a brilliant job. Given the history, he has performed beyond expectations. However. Ashwin too has injury concerns. If he doesn’t recover, Kuldeep Yadav can definitely get a go. 

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, one of Shardul Thakur or T Natarajan will definitely play at Gabba. While who plays the Test match is still unknown, T Natarajan seems the best bet to replace Bumrah. Natarajan brings that x-factor to the table, which could be valuable in the absence of Bumrah. Shardul is also a good bet, and can also be preferred given he was added in the sayad before Natarajan. 

Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj, who is just 2 Tests old, shall lead the pace attack along with Navdeep Saini, who too is just 1 Test old. This would be the first time in more than 40-50 years that India would be fielding a pace attack that would have a combined maximum experience of 5 matches. Hence, if India pull-out a Win or even a Draw from this, it would be a miracle. 

Australia vs India 2020: Ideal Predicted 11 for Team India for 4th Test:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R. Ashwin, Navdeep Saini, Mohd. Siraj, and T Natarajan. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your predicted playing 11 for India vs Australia for the 4th Test? Please, email your comments on business@cricalytics.com

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