The highly anticipated Test series between India and Australia got off to an incredible start before a ball had even been bowled on Friday courtesy of a head-turning performance by the legendary Ravi Shastri.
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins, his counterpart Jasprit Bumrah, and icons of the game Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar gathered with the match official out in the middle for the coin toss, with cricket tragics waiting with bated breath to see which side would bat first.
But Shastri – who is commentating for Fox Sports – completely stole the show with a very energetic performance as he introduced the main players with a theatrical flourish that had commenters singing his praises online.
The 62-year-old former Indian skipper turned the volume up so much he almost didn’t need a microphone as he launched into his address in front of what appeared to be a very disappointing crowd at Optus Stadium.
‘We’re in Western Australia, it’s the magnificent Perth stadium and the venue for the first Test match in the Border Gavaskar Trophy,’ he began.
‘Talk of Border, Gavaskar – two champions out in the centre, Allan Border, Sunny Gavaskar in person – only appropriate,’ he boomed as he pointed to the men the series is named after.
Pictured left to right: Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border, Ravi Shastri, Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah and Ranjan Madugalle gather for the coin toss at Optus Stadium on Friday
Indian legend Shastri (pictured centre with his fellow commentators Brett Lee, left, and David Warner) gave an over-the-top performance at the toss that left cricket fans thrilled
‘We’re read for toss time – Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, Ranjan Madugalle the match referee, tried and tested!’ he continued, saving his best effort for the least well-known of those gathered next to the wicket.
Shastri then turned it down a few notches as he interviewed the captains after India won the toss and decided to bat.
The electric opening to the summer of cricket went over a treat with viewers.
‘I want Ravi Shastri to announce all my major life events,’ one wrote on X.
‘Someone extract Ravi Shastri’s coin toss energy and inject it into my veins,’ added another.
‘I think it’s not just the broadcasters but just about anyone who watched that would have been left in splits. Typical Ravi Shastri fun,’ another chimed in.
Others picked up on his over-the-top energy, writing, ‘Ravi Shastri is MCing like he had 6 coffees and 4 Red Bulls’, ‘Ravi Shastri is off chops’ and ‘India must be here because Ravi Shastri is shouting at me again’.
A new-look India are unleashing two debutants – allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and quick Harshit Rana – for the match in Perth.
Viewers who saw Shastri’s theatrical flourish on Fox Sports came away amazed
The former Indian captain almost didn’t need a microphone as he introduced the legends and skippers on Friday – but he saved his best for the match referee
‘We’re confident of the preparation we’ve had, so we’re going to bat,’ Bumrah said.
‘Usually you don’t have some time to prepare, and the WACA (Ground) is pretty similar, the bounce is there.’
But the tourists confirmed the shock selection calls by dropping star allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin.
Jadeja is coming off a 10-wicket haul in India’s last Test and has tormented Australia in the past.
In the last battle for the Border-Gavaskar trophy in India last year, Jadeja and Ashwin were crowned joint player of the series as they spun their team to victory in the first two Tests to set up the 2-1 triumph.
Rohit Sharma will miss the first Test after remaining in India for the birth of his second child, replaced as captain by Bumrah.
The veteran opener is expected to arrive in Australia soon and will be available for the second Test in Adelaide.
Young star Shubman Gill is also absent after injuring his thumb at training.
Veteran paceman Mohammed Shami is still building his fitness back in India following a serious ankle injury, but he could be called upon later in the series.
While there are changes galore with India, debutant Nathan McSweeney is Australia’s only change from their previous Test back in March.
Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann presented McSweeney, who is in for injured allrounder Cameron Green, with his first Test cap.
McSweeney becomes Australia’s 467th Test cricketer, and the first since left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann debuted in India in February 2023.
The 25-year-old Queenslander, who is currently South Australia’s captain, will open the batting with Usman Khawaja despite never having done it at Sheffield Shield level.
AUSTRALIA: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
INDIA: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (capt), Mohammed Siraj.
