Ravi Shastri was the coach the last time India toured Australia, in 2020-21. India had pulled off a dramatic 2-1 series win then. This time, as Team India gears up for the opening Test, Shastri has come up with his choice of the playing XI in the recent edition of The ICC Review.
Shastri has been adventurous in his selections, as he believes Dhruv Jurel and uncapped all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy should be in the team for the Perth Test, beginning on November 22.
“I think he can easily play as a (specialist) batter,” Shastri was quoted as saying of keeper-batter Jurel. “What impressed me most was his calmness when the chips were down and the tightness he brought to his game.”
About Reddy, he said: “Nitesh Reddy will have to do a job like Shardul Thakur did as the fourth seamer.”
Shastri also wants Shubman Gill to essay the role of the opener along with Yashasvi Jaiswal if Rohit Sharma isn’t available. But Gill is now ruled out of the opening Test.
