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1. KL Rahul
The young Karnataka opener is struggling with his form at present. Lokesh Rahul scored 2 and 10 in both the innings of the Hyderabad Test against Bangladesh, thereby failing to give India a good start.
Rahul was dismissed in the very first over of the one-off Test against Bangladesh at Hyderabad and spent rest of the time sitting in the dressing room, watching other Indian batsmen scoring runs on a track favouring batsmen.
However, in the Test match before Hyderabad he played a 199-run-knock at Chennai against England. Rahul was unlucky to have missed out on his maiden double hundred after he succumbed under pressure.
The 24-year-old, however, was appreciated for his marathon innings as he batted for 450 minutes and consumed 311 deliveries.
He, therefore, would hoping to improve his performance and start the challenging series on a positive note.
2. Murali Vijay
The Tamil Nadu batsman has been the best opener for India in the recent times and a testimony to the same was his patient knock against Bangladesh in the previous Test match where he scored 108.
Vijay will once again open the Indian innings at Pune against Aussies.
Australia have been the favourite opponents for Vijay, who has slammed 4 Test centuries against the Kangaroos. Vijay averages 61.15 against Aussies in Tests.
Vijay had a decent Test season at home so far. Against England, the right-handed batsman scored two centuries (126, 136) and later against Bangladesh he slammed another fine hundred in the first innings.
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
Like Vijay, Pujara too had a memorable Test rubber against England and also against Bangladesh. He slammed two centuries and was second highest scorer (401) for India in the series against English, after skipper Kohli.
He fell 17 short of another fine Test hundred after being dismissed at 83 against Bangladesh in the previous game.
Pujara's domestic performance has also been good. He has already become the highest run getter for India in a first class season, surpassing Chandu Borde's record.
Therefore, team would be hoping another big knock from the right-handed batsman in the middle order against Aussies at Pune as well.
4. Virat Kohli
India's batting masterclass and charismatic skipper is a perfect-fit at number four. The highest scorer across formats in 2016 is in a red hot form and the team would be hoping for big knocks from him against Australia.
Kohli who slammed another Test double, his career's fourth and first against Bangladesh in the previous game, enjoys batting against Australia. So, fans and team both would be hoping another fine innings from the batting maestro.
5. Ajinkya Rahane
The right handed batsman proved his comeback into the Indian Test team after getting preference over triple-centurion Karun Nair with a gritty 82.
Recovering from an injury after sustaining injury during practice session ahead of Mumbai Test against England, the 28-year-old Mumbaikar cemented his spot in the side.
Skipper Kohli would be hoping him to fire Australian bowlers at Pune as well.
6. Wriddhiman Saha
The Bengal lad slammed a brilliant Test hundred against Bangladesh to prove why he's team's first choice wicketkeeper-batsman.
Saha was also making a comeback into the Test squad and struck his career's second hundred. He will once again be donning the role of team's stumper in Pune and affecting those close catches and stumpings. Saha's experience will also help the skipper take calls on using DRS.
7. R Ashwin
World's no. 1 Test bowler is also a fantastic batsman in Tests, which makes him No. 1 all-rounder in the world.
Ashwin will be key to India's success against the Aussies in the entire series and would be keen to repeat his England and New Zealand-like performances in the series too.
Apart from leading India's spin attack his contributions with the bat will strengthen team's batting, lower down the order.
The Test Cricketer of 2016 managed to grab 6 wickets on the batting friendly pitch of Hyderabad during Test against Bangladesh.
Thus, it will be interesting to see how he performs at Pune. The off-spinner would be eyeing some great Test figures in the most sought Test series of the year.
8. Ravindra Jadeja
The left-arm spinner was the second most lethal weapon for India in the series against England. With 26 wickets under his belt, Jadeja was second best bowler in the after Ashwin (28 wickets in 5 matches).
The aggressive left-handed batsman also scored quick runs against Bangladesh to help India go past 650. His presence in the lower order makes the Indian batting line-up deeper.
9. Jayant Yadav
The young India all-rounder might once again make a comeback into the squad. Jayant, another spinner, will make the team's spin attack more lethal. Given Australian team's poor performance against spin on Indian pitches, Jayant might get a place in the playing XI.
10. Umesh Yadav
The right-arm India pacer will surely get his place in the side in the absence of seamer Mohammed Shami. Yadav was part of the Indian pace attack in all the five Tests against England and did well against Bangladesh in the one-off Test.
11. Ishant Sharma
He might have not found any takers in the IPL 10 auction, but the Delhi pacer will certainly be a part of the Playing XI against Australia.
Just like Umesh, Ishant too was part of the team in the previous Test India played. The aggressive Delhi-pacer would, therefore, lead the Indian pace battery against Australia and rattle visitors early on.
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