Question marks still remain on India XI

As Australia mull over the make-up of their batting order, India are deliberating on two positions ahead of next week's first Domain Test at the Adelaide Oval.

India batting coach Sanjay Bangar revealed after stumps on day two of India's sole tour match, against the Cricket Australia XI at the SCG, that the tourists' selectors are yet to settle on an opening combination and the No.6 spot.

Young gun Prithvi Shaw, who made a century on Test debut as an 18-year-old last month and a sublime 66 on Thursday, looks set to open in Adelaide but the form of his partner KL Rahul is what has India concerned.

Rahul was the only member of India's batting line-up to miss out in the first innings in Sydney, out for three driving Victoria left-armer Jackson Coleman on the up to cover in the sixth over.  

In 2018, the right-hander has passed 50 only twice in 18 innings – 54 against Afghanistan in June at Bangalore and 149 against England in September at The Oval – to average just 24.70 for the calendar year.

Rahul, who scored his maiden Test match hundred in the SCG Test of India's corresponding tour four years ago, looks set to be in battle with the batsman who he opened alongside in 2014-15, veteran Murali Vijay. 

Vijay is in the touring squad but did not bat in India's first innings in Sydney. However, the 34-year-old is listed as part of India's XIV for the CA XI clash and is expected to bat in the second innings. 

Vijay's last Test was in August at Lord's where he recorded a pair against England, dismissed twice by swing king James Anderson. 

India batting coach Sanjay Bangar said after play on Thursday a top order spot is up for grabs and that Rahul will be fine if he fulfills his role in the team. 

"We are looking at the opening slot as well as the No.6 slot, those are the positions we are still not decided yet," Bangar said.

"We'll also keep a close eye on how the second innings goes.

"We might give some other batsmen a hit, especially push them up the order a bit and see how they go."

Bangar continued: "(Rahul) is looking really good but today just drove a ball uppishly, especially in the first session in the first hour which you would not expect and experienced opener to do. 

"It's his second tour of Australia, he's got a bit of experience … and he's settling into a nice role. 

"He understands his responsibilities and if he fulfills his responsibilities he will have done a good job for team India."

The No.6 spot looks to be a shootout between Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari.

Vihari is a batting allrounder who made 53 batting at No.6 at the SCG. 

The 25-year-old made his Test debut in The Oval Test this year, making a first-innings 56 and taking 3-37 with his off-spin.

His value as a fifth bowler could see him edge out Rohit, who made 40 from 55 balls against the CA XI. 

Rohit played the last of his 25 Tests against South Africa in January this year but has toured Australia before, averaging 28.83 in six innings with one half-century in 2014-15.  

Another option is promoting wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to No.6 and playing five specialist bowlers, with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin at No.7, but that might weaken the batting too much against Australia's potent bowling unit. 

The second innings of the SCG clash could go a long way to deciding the composition of India's Test XI for the Adelaide blockbuster. 

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar