IND vs AUS: Harbhajan Singh omits vice captain KL Rahul from his India Playing 11 for India vs Australia 1st Test. Check Details

IND vs AUS: Former Indian cricketer, Harbhajan Singh, has made a bold prediction for the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which is set to take place in Nagpur on February 9. He has left out India’s vice-captain, KL Rahul, from the starting line-up and instead has suggested that Suryakumar Yadav should be given an opportunity to make his Test debut. The reason for this decision is the injury of key players, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, who are currently unavailable to play.

IND vs AUS: Harbhajan Singh picks Suryakumar Yadav ahead of vice captain KL Rahul 

Harbhajan Singh is a well-respected figure in the cricketing world and has played a crucial role in many of India’s victories. He believes that Suryakumar Yadav is a talented player and has the potential to make an impact in the Test arena. The right-handed batsman has been in impressive form in recent times and has earned a reputation for his aggressive batting style.

The veteran cricketer also believes that the in-form Shubman Gill should open the innings for India alongside Rohit Sharma. Gill has been making waves in domestic cricket and has been touted as a future star for the Indian cricket team. He has been impressive in his limited international appearances and has shown that he is ready for the step up to the Test arena.

Harbhajan Singh’s prediction for the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy has sparked a lot of discussion and debate among cricket fans and experts. While KL Rahul has been a consistent performer for India, the veteran’s suggestion to bring in new faces could be a masterstroke for the team. It will be interesting to see how the match unfolds and if Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill can live up to the expectations set upon them.

“If you want to give someone a chance to play at No. 5, there’s no better option than Suryakumar Yadav. If someone plays spin better, it’s SKY. He has a sweep shot and steps out well against spinners. When SKY plays in Ranji, he plays in the middle order. Play him at his spot,” said Harbhajan Singh in an interview with Sports Tak.

“KL, I love the way he bats. There is no doubt that he’s a quality batsman but in the present scenario if Shubman Gill doesn’t play then when? Ajinkya Rahane was also vice-captain previously. There were many vice-captains who are not on the team. The team is always the first priority then the individuals come in,” he added.

KL Rahul’s performance during the two-Test series against Bangladesh in December was underwhelming, as he only managed to score 57 runs. On the other hand, Shubman Gill was in impressive form, scoring a century in the first Test against Bangladesh. This contrast in form has drawn attention to the difference in their performances, with many cricket fans and experts talking about the possibility of changes to the Indian cricket team’s line-up.

Predicted India Playing 11

1. Rohit Sharma (C)
2. Shubman Gill
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
4. Virat Kohli
5. Suryakumar Yadav
6. Ravindra Jadeja
7. KS Bharat (wk)
8. Axar Patel
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
10. Mohammed Shami
11. Mohammed Siraj

Viewers don't want to see him in playing 11 and bcci done his place permanently by making VC

— Ajay (@AjaySharma9059) February 8, 2023

But i feel the team management would see kl rahul opening with Rohit and gill at no5 and ks bharat being the wicket keeper

— Masilan Samuel (@MasilanSamuel) February 8, 2023

India vs Australia 2023 Schedule