National coach and selector Darren Lehmann has refused to guarantee third-Test hero Matt Renshaw a ticket to India as Australia chase big first-innings totals against the world No.1 team.

The young opener is under threat from veteran Shaun Marsh if selectors adopt a horses-for-courses policy for the tour of the subcontinent, despite being one of the revelations of Australia's Test revival.

​Marsh has not worn the baggy green since injuring a finger during the first Test of the summer, in which he made a half-century, but returned recently in the Big Bash League.

The West Australian is yet to play a Test in India but has made two centuries from three Tests in Sri Lanka, including a 130 in August, with a princely average of 78.6. Marsh is also no stranger to the tracks in India, where he has played plenty of cricket in the Indian Premier League.

While Renshaw is renowned for his good temperament and discipline, he can also score quickly, which will be important as the best time to bat in India is against the new ball before the spinners take over.

Renshaw would be extremely stiff not to play the first Test against India, let alone miss the tour entirely, after a career-best 184, though there is a recent precedent. Marsh was left out of the Boxing Day Test after he made 182 to accommodate Usman Khawaja, who was returning from injury.

"It's hard to leave a bloke who made 180 out of the side, but we've done it before with Shaun Marsh," Lehmann said on ABC Grandstand.

"Renshaw made 184, played really well and showed he can up the ante when he needs to. So that's going to be a really difficult call. He's a good young kid and you're trying to give him as much experience as you can.

"We'll wait until we get the touring squad, see what it looks like and then make a plan from there. The only way you get better is by playing so that's the challenge with weighing up the balance to the side with India.

"He [Marsh] was exceptional last Test in Sri Lanka, so he's a real chance to come into the squad and play as well."

Lehmann gave a strong hint Australia would play an all-rounder at No.6 to provide bowling support to Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Hilton Cartwright, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell are the leading contenders to play that role.

"First priority is they've got to be able to bat and score runs. I thought Hilton batted really well in the Test match here, pity he didn't go on with it," Lehmann said.

"If you're looking down the track, depending on who you're playing and the make-up of the side, if they've got a lot of left-handers you don't have to because someone like Nathan Lyon can bowl a lot more overs."

India have only two left-handers in their side.

Lehmann said Maxwell, who has been embroiled in controversy and had a moderate summer with bat and ball, needed runs to strengthen his claims.

"We know he plays spin bowling well and offers that extra dimension as a gun fielder," Lehmann said.

Australia's batsmen must improve on their recent showings in Asia if they are to challenge India. England failed to win a Test despite three first innings scores of 400 or more.

"You need to go bigger than that – you need to make big, big scores and put pressure on India that way," Lehmann said.

"If they make 500, 550 it's probably a different story with England on that tour.

"I thought they played reasonably well with the bat so the challenge for our batting group is going big, much like we've done in the last two Test matches."