After Team India’s convincing innings-and-132-run victory over Australia in Nagpur, the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 extravaganza is moving to the capital. With Rohit Sharma’s team leading the series 1-0 and the second Test taking place at the notoriously spinner-friendly Arun Jaitley Stadium, excitement is high.
Matthew Kuhnemann, a spinner, has been added to the Australian team ahead of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins February 17 in Delhi. He has taken the position of Queensland teammate Mitchell Swepson, who will be returning home to witness the birth of his child, according to cricket.com.au.
Swepson was unable to make the starting lineup for the first Test in Nagpur. To be with his pregnant fiancée, Jess, he will immediately take a flight back to Brisbane.
Along with Ashton Agar, Kuhnemman’s inclusion into the team will give the Australians another left-arm spin option. At the MCG, he recently claimed 2-55 off 21 overs and 1-67 from 23 overs while competing in the Marsh Sheffield Shield.
Mitchell Starc set to return for the 2nd Test
Several injury worries are now affecting the visiting Australian team. The Australians are hoping that all-rounder Cameron Green, who was unable for the first Test due to a finger injury, will be available for the Delhi match. If he is included in the starting lineup, the visitors may be able to field a third spinner in addition to Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy. However, his inclusion in the 2nd Test against India in Delhi is still doubtful.
Pat Cummins confirmed on Saturday that Mitchell Starc would be joining the team in Delhi for the upcoming match. Due to a finger injury, the left-arm quick was out from the first game of the series. Josh Hazlewood won’t be available for the subsequent game, according to the Australian skipper.
The batsman Matthew Renshaw, who was unexpectedly chosen ahead of Travis Head, is also dealing with a knee issue, which would make the Australians worry more about Green’s availability.
India to seal their spot for WTC final
Australia will be looking for ways to recover in the series after losing the first Test in Nagpur by a big margin. On a spin-friendly pitch on Saturday, India took advantage of the Australian hitters’ dread of spin to bowl them out for 91, their lowest score in India and second-lowest ever.
With the win, India has set itself up for the 3-0 victory they will need to easily secure their spot in the World Test Championships (WTC) Final, which will take place at the Oval in London later this year.
India vs Australia 2023: IND vs AUS Test Series Squad
India Test Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja (inclusion subject to fitness), Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
Australia Test Squad: Pat Cummins (Captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
Also Read: IND vs AUS: 3 Reasons Why David Warner Shouldn’t Be Included In Australia’s Side For The 2nd Test
