India vs Australia 2017: All you need to know about the first Test in Pune

#3 Usman Khawaja likely to sit out

Matt Renshaw seems to have done enough to pip Usman Khawaja for the second opener’s slot

Australia head coach Darren Lehmann gave enough hints on his side’s playing eleven. With both Marsh brothers returning to the side, the team combination is almost locked in and the only bone of contention will revolve around David Warner’s opening partner. However, going by recent practice sessions during which Usman Khawaja batted alone in the nets against local spinners, Renshaw is likely to open the innings.

With Mohammed Shami and Amit Mishra not recovering sufficiently from their respective injuries, India named an unchanged squad for the first two Tests. Depending on how the team management takes the curator’s claims, Jayant Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will compete for the fifth bowler’s slot.

Probable XI

India

Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav/Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma

Australia

David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Steven Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood