As Australian cricket squad, led by Steve Smith, landed here today, BCCI selectors will meet here tomorrow to choose the team for the upcoming four-Test series.
Barring any surprises, the selectors are likely to retain the same 16-member squad that figured in the 208-run victory over Bangladesh today.
With there being no word on the availability or otherwise of Bengal speedster Mohammed Shami, who got injured during the five-Test rubber against England and subsequently lost his father, the four-member pace attack chosen for the Test against Bangladesh is expected to be retained.
Leggie Amit Mishra, chosen originally in the squad, got injured and made way for Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav who, thus, is also expected to be retained in the squad.
The first Test in the series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy commences at Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on February 23 to be followed by the next three games at Bengaluru (March 4-8), Ranchi (March 16-20) and Dharamshala (March 25-29).
The Australian squad, led by Steve Smith, arrived here today ahead of the four-match rubber and will play a three-day warm-up game against an India A squad led by Hardik Pandya at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium from February 17-19 before proceeding to Pune.
The Aussies reached this metropolis from Dubai where they had a training camp and drove down to a South Mumbai hotel where they will stay till they depart for Pune afterplaying a warm-up game against India A at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium.
The team is scheduled to have its first practice session at the Stadium on February 15.
Australia are touring India for a full Test series for the first time since they were blanked 4-0 by the hosts in the 2012-13 season.
Australia later defeated India 2-0 in a four-Test rubber played Down Under in the 2014-15 season.
Australia squad: Steve Smith (Captain), David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (WK), Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Ashton Agar, Usman Khawaja, Jackson Bird, Mitchell Swepson, Glenn Maxwell.
Tour schedule:
Feb 17-19: Practice match v India A in CCI, Mumbai
Feb 23-27: 1st Test, Pune
March 4-8: 2nd Test, Bengaluru
March 16-20: 3rd Test, Ranchi
March 25-29: 4th and final Test, Dharamshala.
