India's wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (L) talks with bowler Ravindra Jadeja on the third day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on January 5, 2019. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

BCCI(MUMBAI): The selection committee headed by chief selector Sunil Joshi is set to name the squad to the Australia tour after today (October 26). The BCCI and Cricket Australia are yet to formally announce the fittings but it is confirmed that India’s jumbo contingent will property in Australia next month. The series will begin with white-ball fixtures before both teams vie to your Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Throughout the selection assembly, all eyes will be on the likes of Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, and Hardik Pandya. Gill is based on losing his place from the ODI team while Shaw might only stay in the red-ball team. Pandya is playing with IPL 2020 as a specialist batsman and he might not be recalled on the Test side.

As for Rishabh, he might lose out on choice entirely. He is coping with weight problems’ and that Team India’s fitness coach had a conversation with him. The report adds that he is overweight. Maintaining desired fitness levels and clearing the yo-yo test are non-negotiable and there is a long list of players who have been dropped from the national team due to fitness issues before 3 years.”The Indian team fitness coach had shared his perspective with Pant a few days past and we believe he’s overweight.

Irrespective of what’s obvious about the field, the BCCI and the selectors might have to spend the fitness report on Pant into consideration before they can pick him. The selectors will need to consult with coach Nick Webb prior to making the call.  If selected, Rishabh is not expected to make it to the last XI at least in ODIs and T20Is.

KL Rahul was endorsed to perform the wicketkeeping job in white-ball cricket. He played all eight white-ball matches in New Zealand while Rishabh sat out. From the longest arrangement, Rishabh has an edge over Wriddhiman Saha. Team India requires an additional batsman on foreign currency and Rishabh has proved his worth with the bat.

With 350 runs in seven innings, Rishabh was India’s second-highest run-scorer the last time India toured Australia. In addition, he scored a century in England in his debut Test series.

Senior pacers Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were hurt through IPL 2020 and are unavailable for selection.