Australia coach backs under-fire Smith as opener for series against India
Rubbing salt to the injury, the 34-year-old Smith could only manage 51 runs from four knocks during the recently-completed 2-0 series victory over New Zealand.
Virat Kohli-led hosts made one change to their team.
Australian skipper Steven Smith won the toss and elected to bat against India in the opening match of their four-match Test cricket series here on Friday.
Virat Kohli-led hosts made one change to their team. Medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was replaced by spinning all-rounder Jayant Yadav while Australia were playing two pacers and two spinners on a slow and low track.
Teams:
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Australia: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith(captain), Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
India : Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
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