The safest of punts that India could take ahead of this week’s first Test in Adelaide, which incidentally is also a pink-ball clash is picking Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI ahead of the possibility of fielding an all-out pace attack. While that is indeed the safest of bets, it isn’t necessarily the best of ones, a recipe that has knelt the Indian side on their knees in the past and has all the ingredients of disaster while still reading ‘control.’

What it would essentially mean is that India must go on and play one of their most daring-est setups with four frontline pacers in the form of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami all being picked ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav. Against Joe Burns and Marcus Harris, while spin has proven to be effective only in limited-measures, it was a proven fact that against quality pacers, the duo finds their willows in shreds and their confidence wailing.

Now if you are wondering how and in which world - an average of 25 is bad, the average declines when it comes to visiting spinners with the pink-ball. There might be a few intangibles involved here - which can’t be denied including relatively alien conditions and a daunting new prospect of playing with the pink-ball. India falls under one such territory, having played just one Test under the lights.

And interestingly, in that encounter against Bangladesh, it was evident which way the pink-ball favours - the pacers picked up all the 20 wickets, spearheaded by Umesh Yadav’s rapid pace. That combined with Yadav’s brilliance against Australia in recent years, indicates every reason why they should start him and Mohammed Siraj over Ravichandran Ashwin, in what will be a sole spinner role. 

A short list of spinners have all tried to make their presence felt at this very venue - including Yasir Shah, Mitchell Santner, Tabraiz Shamsi, Moeen Ali, and Mark Craig but none have succeeded, which shows the blueprint to success in the cityscape of Adelaide. For India, the first Test sets up pretty much the pace of the entire series, with their skipper missing for the last three Tests and would have to utilize all the minute of chances to get one up on the opposition, and playing Ashwin would drastically handicap them. 

In particular, the pink-ball, which is essentially made with heavier lacquer to keep it well and healthy even after the early overs, steadily deteriorates in the middle-overs, with minimal or no offer for the spinners, as witnessed in the second warm-up game. India, who fielded four pacers, reaped the best rewards of going all-out attack on the first day, where they dismissed the Australian bowlers cheaply. 

Now that’s a ploy and half, which the Indian bowlers in all fairness, have perfected their execution. They have done the hard yards, with their planning for the first Test now it’s the selection and the execution which could potentially hurt India from going 1-0 up and a large chunk of it depends on the management picking or not picking Ravichandran Ashwin.