Australia vs India 2018-19: 3 Indian pacers who could come in as injury replacements during the Test series

Having drawn the three-match T20 series 1-1, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team is currently playing its only tour game against Cricket Australia XI at Sydney. After that match, Team India will lock horns with Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy, which will get underway on 6th December. The first match of the four-Test series will be played at the Adelaide Oval.

As it is one of the biggest series of the year 2018, the buzz among the cricket aficionados is at its peak. And the players are certainly trying their hardest to warm up in the best possible way for the prestigious Test series.

With Prithvi Shaw suffering an injury during the tour game and being ruled out of the first Test at Adelaide, injury concerns for the pacers are also doing the rounds. There are high chances of pacers injuring themselves at some point in the long series.

On that note, let us take a look at three bowlers who can come in as injury replacements if at all their services are required Down Under:

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#3 Rajneesh Gurbani

Rajneesh Gurbani first came into the limelight when he set the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy on fire with his exceptional pace bowling for Vidarbha.

Gurbani played a massive role in Vidharbha's triumphant season by picking 39 wickets in just six matches, which included three five-wicket hauls that came in the all-important semifinals and finals. He impressed everyone with his prodigious seam movement that troubled even the finest.

The 25-year-old had a dream domestic season as he picked up wickets almost every time he took the field. Gurbani has thus far picked 76 wickets at an impressive average of 20.13 in the 17 first-class matches he has played.

The Nagpur-born bowler has already scalped six five-wicket hauls, three four-wicket hauls, and one 10-wicket haul in his rather short career. Given his exceptional numbers, Gurbani certainly has it in him to make it big at the international level.

#2 Mohammed Siraj

Siraj has been extremely consistent in the first-class cricket

India has an excellent backup option in the form of Mohammed Siraj. He already has international exposure, as he has represented India in T20Is, which will be an added advantage.

The 24-year-old has been making headlines with his exploits in first class cricket. He has been delivering consistent performances for his domestic side Hyderabad in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

Since Siraj is already on the selectors' radar, he could easily be the first choice as an injury replacement. The Hyderabad speedster is one of the few bowlers in the Indian domestic circuit who can consistently crank up the 140 kilometers per hour mark.

Siraj has picked up over 100 in just 22 first-class matches. The right-arm pacer has 10 four-wicket hauls, four five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls against his name. His impressive average of 19.59 speaks volumes of the quality of his bowling.

#3 Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini is quick and accurate

The 26-year-old Delhi lad has been making waves in the Indian domestic circuit with his fierce fast bowling while representing Haryana. With his 34 wickets in 8 matches during the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy, the wiry fast bowler was instrumental in Delhi reaching the final of the tournament.

Saini's exploits that season fetched him immediate recognition as he was drafted in by the Royal Challengers Bangalore during IPL 2018 auction for a whopping sum of Rs. 3 crore.

The Haryana-born bowler has thus far played 38 first-class matches and notched up 109 wickets at a decent average of 27.92. The right arm pacer also has four four-wicket hauls and a couple of five-wicket hauls against his name.

Saini has already been to three overseas tours as a nets bowler. Given his quick pace and accuracy coupled with his ability to swing the ball on wearing pitches, he will certainly be an excellent backup as an injury replacement.