Dinesh Karthik India XI for 1st Test: Key Players Left Out of the Team, One Suprise Inclusion!

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India will be returning to Red Ball cricket with a tough assignment this time as they take on Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Four-Match Test series starts on Thursday (February 9) in Nagpur and will continue till the second week of March. Both teams will have a lot to play for as a positive result in the series will bear certain rewards, while a negative outcome will mean ramifications.

With India's squad already in readiness for the Test series, there going to be a huge task for Rahul Dravid and his staff to field the team for the 1st Test. With multiple options in each position, India's Selection Conundrum will put the coaching staff to a huge test.

And amid this, India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has lent his helping hand for Rahul Dravid and co. Karthik took to social media and named his own starting XI for the first Test in Nagpur, and has taken some bold decisions in his team selection.

SKY In, Gill Out:

Karthik has included Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat in his squad, as Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan don't make it to the lineup. He has gone on with three spinners, but has included both Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in it along with Ravichandran Ashwin, leaving out Kuldeep Yadav.

Dinesh Karthik's Chosen XI for 1st Test:

Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

Suryakumar got his maiden Test callup in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and leaving out Shubman Gill to accommodate SKY can be a tricky decision. Gill has been a regular performer for India across all formats and currently batting in the form of his life. Hence leaving the youngster out for SKY will not only dent Gill's morale, but will be a major injustice to his performances. Also, the choice of going with two left-arm spinners in the team is a bit absurd as well, given a chinaman option in Kuldeep Yadav warms on the bench.

The choice of Karthik's pacers is absolutely spot on. Given India opt to field two pacers, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami will be the undisputed first choices, and Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat are clearly down the pecking order.