🏏India vs Australia - 1st Test: VCAS, Nagpur: 09 - 13 Feb 2023 🏏

🏏India vs Australia - 1st Test: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, on 9th February 2023 at 9:30 AM IST🏏

Marnus Labuschagne, the No. 1 Test batter in the world, is relishing the battle he's set to have against R Ashwin in India. He elaborates in detail on how he would approach batting in India, against their various spinners and particularly against Ashwin. In this interview, while detailing his plans, Labuschagne also gives away that it'll hinge on putting the pressure back on Ashwin and getting the run rate up.

India, in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who has in the recent past been their No. 1 Test batter, are not ruling out the possibility of a left-field selection in Suryakumar Yadav. Skipper Rohit Sharma has said that they're mulling the option alongside the in-form Shubman Gill. "Gill has been in supreme form over the last three to four months, lots of big hundreds as well. On the other hand, Surya as well has shown what he is capable of in T20 cricket and what sort of game he can bring to Test cricket as well," he said a day ahead of the start of the Test.

Both statements are instructive on how the teams are thinking even before a ball has been bowled. The pitches, at least the Nagpur one to start with, are expected to take turn from early in the game. And as scoring runs are going to prove difficult for both sets of batters, there are early indications that they'd be taking a leaf out of England's book and look to play aggressive cricket at least in some phases of the game. If the pitches play to expectation and the games are low-scoring, a quick cameo here or there could well turn out to be vital.

While both captains preferred to talk up a game that takes the pitch out of the equation, the selection calls and thereby their approach, hinges totally on how the surface is made to order. Australia are ready to counter India's ploys against their left-handers by including a right-hander in Peter Handscomb even as it helps with what could be theirbiggest challenge in India - of negating India's big strength at home. Likewise India's calls with regard to their third spin option and choice of wicketkeeper rest on the pitch and its conditions. 'Horses for courses'' was how Rohit Sharma wanted to make the selection calls.

The start of another India home series begins thus with the pitch becoming the centre of attention. The series is also likely to carry a bit of an edge with India relying on the results to go their way to make it to the final of the World Test championship, where they could come up against Australia again. For the visitors, it's a chance to get even, having lost at home twice to India and with improved shows in the subcontinent against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, they'd be gung-ho about their prospects even if the challenges are fiery.

VCA Stadium Pitch Report: The pitches at the VCA Stadium has assisted quicker bowlers, but has mainly helped the spinners like most wickets in the country. While batters have found run-scoring a little easy early in the match, the scorching heat has come into play helping the tweakers show their dominance in the longest format at the venue. But, it has been a while since the last Test at the venue

Nagpur Weather Forecast: The weather forecast from Thursday (February 9) to Monday (February 13) indicates warm conditions throughout the playing days with max temperature of 34o C which feels like 36o C. There is no threat of rain on any of the match days or in the lead up to the match. So, weather will not play spoilsport in the Test series opener.

VCA Stadium T20I Stats and Record Matches:

Matches: 6

India Won: 4

Visiting Team Won: 1

Match Drawn: 1

Matches Won Batting 1st: 3

Matches Won Batting 2nd: 2

Highest Team Total: 610/6 by India vs Sri Lanka in 2017

Lowest Team Total: 79 All Out by South Africa vs India in 2015

Average 1st Innings Score: 324

Average 2nd Innings Score: 362

Average 3rd Innings Score: 247

Average 4th Innings Score: 197

Highest Individual Score: Hashim Amla (South Africa) - 253 not out vs India in 2010

Best Bowling Innings: Jason Krejza (Australia) - 8 for 215 vs India in 2008

Best Bowling Match: R Ashwin (India) - 12 for 98 vs South Africa in 2015

Most Runs: Virender Sehwag (India) - 357 runs in 6 innings

Total Fifties: 24 Most Fifties: MS Dhoni (India) - 4

Most Hundreds: Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 2

Total Hundreds: 14 (Virat Kohli & Sachin Tendulkar x 2, Virender Sehwag, Hashim Amla, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Jonathan Trott, Simon Katich and Ian Bell)

Total Double Hundreds: 2 (Virat Kohli and Hashim Amla)

Total 150 plus scores: 4 (Virat Kohli, Hashim Amla, Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis)

Most Wickets: R Ashwin (India) - 23 wickets in 3 matches

Most 10 Wicket Matches: R Ashwin (India), Jason Krejza (Australia) & Dale Steyn (South Africa) - 1

Most 5 Wicket Innings: R Ashwin (India) - 2

Total Sixes: 35 Total Fours: 563 Most Sixes: Virender Sehwag (India) - 3 sixes

Most Fours: Virender Sehwag (India) - 50 fours

Team News

India: There have been a few question marks leading up to finalizing the eleven for India, with the primary one turning out to be that of the No. 5 spot left vacant by the injured Shreyas Iyer. The contenders for the spot include the in-form Shubman Gill, who has previously been looked at as just an opener by the national side. The other is Suryakumar Yadav, whose attacking instincts in white-ball cricket at the international level could force India to take a punt, in the absence of Rishabh Pant's aggressive methods in the middle order. The other two spots up for discussion include that of the wicket-keeper, with KS Bharat likely to get the nod ahead of Ishan Kishan as should Axar Patel for the third spinner's spot.

Probable XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav/Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj

Australia: There are a number of reasons for Australia to try and avoid stacking up too many left-handers in their playing eleven. While four in the top seven are a shoo-in, they could avoid adding a fifth to the mix by picking Peter Handscomb over Matt Renshaw.

Probable XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb/Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon

Did you know

- In the last ten years, India have won each of the 15 series they have played at home. They have lost only two Tests in this period, one of which came against Australia in Pune.

- R Ashwin is one wicket away from becoming the ninth bowler to pick 450 Test wickets. If he gets there in Nagpur, he will be the second quickest to the milestone behind Muralitharan who got there in 80 Tests.

- Since January 2021, Virat Kohli averages 25.67 against spin for 12 dismissals. Against off-spin, he has been dismissed six times at an average of 20.50.

What they said:

Speaking about the doctored wicket, you've got to focus on the cricket that is going to be played over the next five days and not worry too much about the pitch. The last series we played here, a lot was spoken about the pitch, all 22 cricketers going to play are quality cricketers so not to worry too much about how the pitch is going to be like, how much is it turning, how much is it seaming. You've got to just come out and play good cricket and win the game, as simple as that - Rohit Sharma wants little to do with the talk about the pitch

In the spotlight: Virat Kohli and Marnus Labuschagne

The coronation has already happened on Insta. After Shubman Gill completed the set by scoring his first T20I century earlier this month, Virat Kohli put out a story with the words "Sitara" meaning star, and "the future is here". All through his career, the former India captain has delighted in the success of his team-mates (Thank you, Kohli cam). Much more recently, he has shrugged off the notion that what he does on a cricket field is what defines him. This is Kohli as we've never seen him before. He has become totally SFW. But Australia are here and they usually have a way of getting his blood pumping.

Australia have four left-hand batters in their top seven. India have just one. And this match will take place on a pitch which has been selectively watered to create a rough outside the left-hand batters' off stump on a good to full length area. It's home advantage but on a whole other level because the likelihood of backfiring - as it did in Pune six years ago - is minimal. This places the onus very clearly on Australia's right-hand batters, so Marnus Labuschagne, over to you. In 2017, Australia did so many things right but struggled to find support for Smith. This time around, they have someone capable of not just matching him but possibly even beating him on the run-scorers chart.

Stats and trivia

India need to win at least three Tests in this series to put their qualification for the WTC final beyond any doubt. And considering their win-loss record at home over the last 10 years is 42 and 2, they'll be fancying their chances.

One of the two in 42 and 2 is Australia. They beat India in 2017 and then England followed suit in 2021.

Axar Patel has 47 wickets in eight Tests so far. If he takes three more in his next match, he will be the fastest Indian to 50 Test wickets, alongside Ashwin (nine Tests).

Usman Khawaja has been part of a Test squad that has toured India twice before - in 2013 and 2017 - but he is yet to play an actual game here.

Quotes

"Winning a series in India is like an Ashes away series [win], but even more rare. It will be a career highlight, an era-defining series if we win out there"

Australia captain Pat Cummins is motivated big time to win in India

Australia have won the toss and will bat

Big early moment in this Test?

Big news from the Australia team - Travis Head is not playing