Twitter Left Divided as Prithvi Shaw Retains Spot for 1st Test

India have announced their playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Adelaide beginning 17 December.

The Indian cricket team have announced their playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Adelaide beginning 17 December, and one of the surprises has been Prithvi Shaw retaining his spot at the top of the order alongside Mayank Agarwal.

Shaw got the nod over Shubman Gill, who looked in good nick in the pink-ball warm-up game against Australia A in Sydney. Gill scored 43 and 65 batting at number 3, while Shaw scored 40 and 3 at the top of the order.

UPDATE🚨: Here’s #TeamIndia’s playing XI for the first Border-Gavaskar Test against Australia starting tomorrow in Adelaide. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/WbVRWrhqwi

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 16, 2020

The Indian cricket team have announced their playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Adelaide beginning 17 December, and one of the surprises has been Prithvi Shaw retaining his spot at the top of the order alongside Mayank Agarwal.

Shaw got the nod over Shubman Gill, who looked in good nick in the pink-ball warm-up game against Australia A in Sydney. Gill scored 43 and 65 batting at number 3, while Shaw scored 40 and 3 at the top of the order.

The decisions left experts on social media rather surprised and with plenty to say.

It’s not often that India announces the playing XI on the eve of the test. This time they have. Shaw and Saha playing tomorrow. The most incredible thing about these selections is that you could argue for and against them with equal conviction... #AusvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 16, 2020

Gill unluckier than Pant. #AusvInd https://t.co/7T7o2odKjG

— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) December 16, 2020

I am finding it difficult to understand why KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are sitting outside. Prithvi Shaw was a failure in both practice games.

This is ridiculous. #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/BnervyIosM

— Aayush Sharma | آیوش شرما 🏳️‍🌈 (@JournalistWFH) December 16, 2020

Fuming. Saha is a "proper keeper" it seems. Catching a ball is now regarded as more important than actually being able to score runs. 😭😭😭

— Aaditya Narayan (@AadityaN_28) December 16, 2020

No KL Rahul.

Prithvi Shaw over Shubman Gill.

Only 4 bowlers.

Someone explain this Playing XI to me.

Rahul instead of Shaw would have still made sense. https://t.co/QdhgPJbOBL

— PIYUSH 🇮🇳 (@writetopiyush) December 16, 2020

Terrible to see Prithvi make the cut ahead of Shubman Gill. 😑 #AUSvIND https://t.co/uHDpyvvW2v

— Jigarr Jain (@MeinTeraHero) December 16, 2020

Tad unfair on Shubman Gill but Prithvi Shaw is an impact player like Virender Sehwag. Has been in terrible form though. Hope he can repay the team management's faith.

— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) December 16, 2020

Mayank Agarwal
Prithvi Shaw
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane
Hanuma Vihari
Wriddhiman Saha
R Ashwin
Umesh Yadav
Mohammed Shami
Jasprit Bumrah

Shaw plays ahead of Shubman Gill, but the XI is pretty much on expected lines otherwise. #AUSvIND https://t.co/gyRrBfoC9H

— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) December 16, 2020

I would have picked a different opener on form, but the fact that stability and consistency in selection is being maintained is a good thing.

Pretty excited to see Umesh get an potential full series. He's impressed in Tests the few times he's been asked to come in. #AUSvIND https://t.co/owjvdNDTHj

— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) December 16, 2020

Prithvi Shaw starting the Border Gavaskar Trophy for India, hard on Shubman Gill. He looked in marvelous touch in the Pink Ball practice game. Also, no Rishabh Pant as Wriddhiman Saha starting the series.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 16, 2020

Even legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border etc want Shubman Gill to open with Mayank, but our management wants him only to warm the bench...

Unreal hatred towards a talent like Shubman Gill by Indian management..

— Kirtik Mitra (@Kirtik_Mitra) December 16, 2020

Indian cricket’s selections always see plenty of opinions put forth. However, for now it’s up to Shaw to produce some cracking shots like he is known for. His teammate Shubman Gill, while feeling disappointed, will be looking to make an impression in practice ahead of the Boxing Day Test.