NEW DELHI: Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and opted to bat in the opening Test against India at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali on Friday.
Team India had serious major concerns ahead of the first Test with Harabhajan Singh rendered a doubtful starter, but the key spinner is fit to play.
Dhoni, who has just returned from South Africa after playing in the Champions League Twenty20, will also have to switch quickly to Test mode for the series which coincides with the Commonwealth Games from October 3 to 14 in Delhi.
The same is the case for Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings teammate Suresh Raina, who is set to play his third Test, though another CSK member Murali Vijay is expected to sit out.
With Mohali pitch predicted to be on the slower side with low bounce after heavy rains this monsoon season, slow bowlers, especially Harbhajan would be crucial to India's scheme of things.
In case of the feisty off-spinner's absence, who normally reserves his best against the Australians, Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra will have to take charge of the slow-bowling department.
On the other hand, Australia captain Ricky Ponting hopes to end his dismal run with the bat in India with an impressive performance in a two-Test series.
Ponting, who averages 54.66 overall, has rarely tasted success in India during his illustrious career.
Squad:
India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay.
Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shane Watson, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson.
Read more: 1st Test: Australia elect to bat against India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/australia-in-india
Team India had serious major concerns ahead of the first Test with Harabhajan Singh rendered a doubtful starter, but the key spinner is fit to play.
Dhoni, who has just returned from South Africa after playing in the Champions League Twenty20, will also have to switch quickly to Test mode for the series which coincides with the Commonwealth Games from October 3 to 14 in Delhi.
The same is the case for Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings teammate Suresh Raina, who is set to play his third Test, though another CSK member Murali Vijay is expected to sit out.
With Mohali pitch predicted to be on the slower side with low bounce after heavy rains this monsoon season, slow bowlers, especially Harbhajan would be crucial to India's scheme of things.
In case of the feisty off-spinner's absence, who normally reserves his best against the Australians, Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra will have to take charge of the slow-bowling department.
On the other hand, Australia captain Ricky Ponting hopes to end his dismal run with the bat in India with an impressive performance in a two-Test series.
Ponting, who averages 54.66 overall, has rarely tasted success in India during his illustrious career.
Squad:
India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay.
Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shane Watson, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson.
Read more: 1st Test: Australia elect to bat against India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/australia-in-india
