IND vs AUS: Ashwin, Nitish Kumar Reddy & Three Pacers - India Bowling Attack For Perth Test Finalized?

Add as a preferred source on Google

A day after the potential Indian batting unit was set, reports suggest Team India may have finalized their possible bowling attack for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting on Friday (November 22) in Perth.

Many predicted the Indian batting unit based on the visuals from the training session with Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal seen doing fielding drills alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul.

Now, a report from Indian Express has predicted the bowling attack for the opening encounter at the Optus Stadium in Perth, where a green top wicket is likely to welcome the two sides.

With kind of surface on offer and the opposition batters in mind, the report says India is considering three pacers and a seam-bowling all-rounder in Nitish Kumar Reddy to form the major part of the attack.

If the reports turn out to be true, then Nitish will make his Test debut in Perth, where he will be the fourth pace option alongside stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and most possibly Akash Deep.

The report further added that veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will get the nod above left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the Perth contest due to the threat of left-handed batters in the Australian batting line-up.

Australia have Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey forming their main batting unit and Ashwin has a good record against left-handers. Plus, the senior spinner has also troubled Steve Smith in the past, making him a possible favourite to take the lone spin slot.

Will India use the four pace and 1 spin attack in Perth Test?

Going by history, Team India has often played only one spinner in overseas tours to SENA nations. The Indian team will be tempted with playing two spinners, but the surface on offer in Perth, will put them off those plans.

However, it is still unclear whether Ashwin would get the nod over Jadeja. But the veteran has played 10 Tests so far on Australian soil, where he has claimed 39 wickets at an average of 42.15. On the last tour, Ashwin played in three of the four Tests. If picked, this will be the 38-year-old's first appearance in Perth.

As for the fourth pace option, India will definitely pick Nitish, who is the lone seam-allrounder in the squad, and the team can't afford to weaken their batting by playing an extra pacer in the form of Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana.

Even the three pacers is not finalized. Bumrah as the captain and the spearhead will play, but the ones who will partner him is still unclear. However, Siraj as the senior is expected to be one of the other options with the trio of Akash Deep, Rana and Krishna likely to fight for one spot.