India v Australia 2nd Test: India predicted XI

India have suffered a massive defeat at the hands of the Australians in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The subcontinent giants have rarely been in this situation before at home. The bowling was merely average while the batting performance was the worst in some time. Going into the second Test trailing the visitors is not the kind of start India wanted. But now they have to adapt and get the right boots on for the second test in Bengaluru. It will be interesting to see how India line-up for the upcoming Test. The whole team underperformed in the first game and that may lead to some changes in the side. But given that the captain and the coach think differently the changes may not occur. Here is CricTracker’s predicted eleven for the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 1. KL Rahul KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter) After not performing in the one-off Test against Bangladesh, Lokesh Rahul was backed by the team management and the skipper. He was given a chance in the first Test and was the only batsman who did something mentionable. Rahul scored 64 of the 105 runs India scored in the first innings. Though he has been criticized for throwing it away at the wrong time, he looked in good nick and surely would be in the starting eleven for the second Test. 2. Murali Vijay Murali Vijay. (Photo Source: BCCI) Vijay looked out of sorts in the first Test. He could never settle on the raging turner that Pune produced. He was not immune to it and so was no other Indian batsman. Murali recently scored a century against Bangladesh and was in superb form coming into the series. This one poor performance won’t overshadow his knocks leading into the series. He is one of those batsmen who likes to play long innings and India will want him to do that in the second Test. 3. Cheteshwar Pujara Cheteshwar Pujara. (Photo Source: BCCI) Cheteshwar Pujara had a rare failure against the Aussies in the first Test. He has been the backbone of India’s successful home season so far. Scoring tons after tons in this season, Pujara has formed a superb partnership with the Indian skipper. For the team to bounce back they will expect Pujara to come good and give stability to the batting unit after the fall of one of the openers. 4. Virat Kohli (C) Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter) There are very few batsmen out there who are as good as Virat Kohli. The captain of the Indian team and the performer of the highest order, this master is in the form of his life. Though his form was somewhat shaken in the first game, his confidence still remains on a high. India’s performance and the result of the game will largely depend on the kind of day this guy has on the field. Virat knows that and would want to lead from the front. 5. Ajinkya Rahane Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) After a solid fifty against Bangladesh, Rahane failed to make a mark in the first Test. A quality player like him is expected to do well but for some reasons, he was not able to apply himself in either inning. Selected ahead of the triple ton scorer Karun Nair, this little man from Mumbai will have to perform in the second Test to justify his position in the side. 6. Wriddhiman Saha (wk) Wriddhiman Saha. (Photo Source: BCCI) Wriddhiman remains to be the first choice keeper for India. His wicketkeeping has been exceptional but the team playing one batsman short expect a substantial effort from him with the bat as well. Saha would want to get together with the tail and wag to ensure like they have done so often in the season the Indian lower order gives the team extra runs and momentum in the game. 7. Ravichandran Ashwin Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI) Ashwin is the number one Test bowler in the world and there is no replacement for him. He has outperformed himself in this season. Ashwin has scripted many wins for India over the past years and India will dearly rely upon him in the second Test. The Bangalore wicket is expected to be a slow turner and the off-spinner will unleash against the Aussie batsmen to make up for the previous match as well. His performance with the ball is as crucial as Virat’s with the bat. 8. Ravindra Jadeja Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: BCCI) Jadeja has amused everyone with his accuracy and the knack of breaking partnerships. He bowled beautifully in the first Test but was unlucky to not take the wickets he deserved. Ashwin and Jadeja have formed a formidable partnership with the ball. When one builds pressure the other benefits with the wickets and it has always been this way and his return to form with the ball and contribution with the bat as well, is a necessity for India to do well. 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo Source: BCCI) Kumar hasn’t been able to become a regular member of the Indian Test team. His swing bowling with the new ball can be a huge factor for them. He has the ability to move the ball both ways and that be fatal for the opposition if used intelligently. Ishant’s back of a length bowling is not gonna help India on the subcontinent pitches. Bhuvi has in recent past also used reverse swing well and he gives them the best chance of getting a wicket with the new ball. 10. Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep Yadav with Shane Warne & Anil Kumble. (Photo Source: BCCI) We expect the team to go in with two changes, keeping the batting order intact they would want to bring in chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in place of Jayant Yadav. This young man is someone who can be unpredictable on any surface. He is young, raw and Australia won’t know much about him. Jayant hasn’t been able to get them the wickets though he scored runs but not when they needed the most i.e. at Pune. 11. Umesh Yadav Umesh Yadav. (Photo Source: BCCI) Umesh Yadav is finding his rhythm rather quickly nowadays than he once used to. He bowled a breathtaking spell against Shakib Al Hasan in the one-off Test and brought that form against the Aussies as well. He was the only bright spot for Team India in the previous match. Umesh was used as the change bowler and brought immediate success. He picked 6 wickets in the match and bowled some of the best we have seen from him. He has pace and is able to move to the old ball with consistency and that makes him the most lethal Indian bowler on dead wickets as well.

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