Despite playing just seven first-class games, the 22-year-old could be brought in to partner star veteran Nathan Lyon in Nagpur.

It is understood Murphy’s father Jamie is making his way to India.

Pat Cummins often confirms his XI the day before a match but the Australia captain will wait until the toss on Thursday.

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It would be a break with tradition if Murphy is picked, with the last time Australia played two front-line off-spinners being in 1988 when Peter Taylor and Tim May teamed up for a Test in Pakistan.

But Cummins has ruled out all-rounder Cameron Green, who is still recovering from a broken finger suffered while batting in the Boxing Day Test.

“I think he’d be as prepared as he could be,” Cummins said of Murphy on Wednesday.

“He’s been bowling beautifully in the nets over here.

“He’s started really well for Victoria in first-class cricket.

“If he got the nod, he’s got Nathan Lyon down the other end that he can work with.

“He’s ready – everyone in the squad here has had really good preparation and whoever we pick is 100 per cent ready to go.”

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Cummins left the door ajar to play three spinners, but conceded it was unlikely due to Green not being there to bowl his seamers.

“We’ve done it before, it’s of course a possibility,” he said.

“In extreme conditions, you sometimes have to change the line-up.”

Murphy has taken 29 wickets at an average of 25.20 since debuting for Victoria in April 2021.

If Murphy plays, bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar will likely be left out after featuring in Australia’s New Year’s Test against South Africa at the SCG.

Agar, who has a first-class bowling average of 42.21, and Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson are the other spinners in Australia’s 18-man squad.

It will be a battle between Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb to decide who bats at No.6.

However, Handscomb is firming to be chosen so Australia can avoid a left-hand heavy batting line-up with David Warner, Usman Khwaja and Travis Head already in the top five.

Renshaw made his first Test appearance in more than four years last month, but selectors could go for Handscomb to combat India’s trio of spinners – Ravi Jadeja, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin – on a likely raging turner.

“I think it is a factor over here,” Cummins said of choosing between left and right-hand batters.

“With so much traffic from the right-handers bowling, at times there is a bit more out there for the left-handers.

“The Indian line-up is going to be packed full of right-handers so I think it plays a small factor.”

-AAP