Explained: Why India must win the 1st Test against Australia in Perth

India made a bold decision to bat first in the opening Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. In a surprising move, they left out R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja from the playing XI, opting instead for Washington Sundar as the sole spinner.

This strategic choice may have been influenced by Australia's lineup of left-handed batsmen, with Sundar's strong batting skills making him the preferred option.

Adding to the excitement, India handed Test debuts to Harshit Rana and Nitish Reddy, while including Devdutt Padikkal in the XI due to Shubman Gill's absence. The selection of Dhruv Jurel over Sarfaraz Khan at no.6 was based on Jurel's impressive performance in the practice game against Australia A, where he scored two fifties and showcased his technical prowess.