The big question which then emerges is around the composition of the XI for the big fixture in Adelaide. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are set to replace Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel but where should they bat in the order? Also, should R Ashwin come in for Washington Sundar?

Who should open for India?

This would not even be a question if not for what transpired in Perth in the series opener! KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal put together a brilliant 201-run stand consuming as many as 383 deliveries between them batting the home team out of the contest. It was the first double-century opening partnership for India in Australia ever. The manner in which the duo applied themselves against a world-class bowling unit operating in its own backyard on one of the fastest pitches in the world was truly commendable – it was attritional old-school Test cricket – not the slam-bam Bazball variety but solid defensive textbook stuff.

Rohit has a splendid record as an opener for India – he was moved to the top of the order in 2019 and has not looked back thereafter. He has an average of 44 from the position with nine of his 12 hundreds coming as opener. Rohit also displayed a good technique and temperament at the top of the order on India’s last tour Down Under in 2020-21 giving the team solid starts in Brisbane and Sydney.

But Rohit has been woefully out of form in the last five Tests – he has scored just 133 runs in his last 10 innings at an average of 13.3 crossing fifty on just one occasion! Then there are the dynamics of the Pink Ball which does a lot more when it is new and shiny as compared to the red cherry. Does an out-of-form Rohit want to risk himself against the moving Pink Ball, possibly under lights in Adelaide?

Given the above context, it might be better for India if the Rahul-Jaiswal pair continues to open, at least in Adelaide and Rohit pushes himself down the order, to say, a number 5 position, from where he did make some useful contributions on India’s 2018-19 tour to Australia. This logic might not have been lost on Rohit – the ultimate team man – who let Rahul-Jaiswal open the innings in the Pink Ball practice encounter against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra and pushed himself down in the middle order.

In case Rohit takes yet another punt for the team (he started a batting revolution in the powerplay post India’s early exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup), India’s top 6 in Adelaide would look like this:

1. KL Rahul

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal

3. Shubman Gill

4. Virat Kohli

5. Rohit Sharma

6. Rishabh Pant

Does Ashwin replace Sundar?

Washington Sundar’s selection ahead of R Ashwin at Perth was startling to say the least! This is not about Sundar as much as it is about Ashwin. No doubt that Sundar was India’s best spinner and was in fine wicket-taking form in the home series against New Zealand. And Ashwin looked a bit out of it.

But that was just one bad series for Ashwin in an outstanding career which has seen him cross Club 500 at a strike rate better than that of both Muttiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne! Ashwin is ranked amongst the pantheon of all-time greats but time and again has had to face scrutiny and kept out of the XI, especially in SENA nations, where historically the team management has preferred Jadeja over the off-spinner. Would Australia ever drop the legendary leg spinner after a bad series or not play him in India where he had a poor record? Would Sri Lanka ever harbour thoughts of leaving Murali out of the XI in Australia where he struggled?

Moreover, Ashwin bagged four wickets in the 2021 Pink Ball Test in Adelaide which included the wickets of Travis Head and Steven Smith, and helped India secure a lead in the first innings. The off-spinner also played a significant role in India’s sensational comeback in the MCG Test. Ashwin also has a brilliant record against three left-handed batters in Australia’s line-up – Head, Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey.

Sundar’s time will come but he does not merit a place in the current Indian XI over one of India’s biggest match and series winners in their Test history - not in India, not in Australia, nowhere! Also, he was unimpressive in Perth – both with the bat and ball.

India’s ideal XI for Adelaide:

1. KL Rahul, 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3. Shubman Gill, 4. Virat Kohli, 5. Rohit Sharma, 6. Rishabh Pant, 7. R Ashwin, 8. Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9. Harshit Rana, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Jasprit Bumrah