Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana make debut for India

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Harshit Rana are making their debuts for India as they have been named in the playing XI for the first Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at the Optus Stadium, Perth. Washington Sundar has been chosen as the lone-spinner in the lineup, and the 25-year-old is playing ahead of both the experienced pros Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

KL Rahul will be opening the batting in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who is missing the Test, after recently welcoming his second child with wife Ritika Sajdeh.

Shubman Gill recently suffered a fracture on his left thumb while fielding at slips during match simulation against India A in Perth. As a result, he is missing the Perth Test, and in his place, Devdutt Paddikal has been chosen to bat at No.3.

Devdutt Paddikal was not a part of the initial squad, and at the last moment, he was asked to stay back in Australia, after having previously played for India A against Australia A. Dhruv Jurel, who scored 80 and 68 against Australia A in the second unofficial Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, has also gotten the nod ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in the middle-order.