India bounced back in style in Melbourne after losing the first Test in Adelaide in a rather humiliating matter. Ajinkya Rahane played a captain’s knock with the team missing Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj stepped up to fill in Mohammed Shami’s place as India thoroughly outplayed Australia at the MCG.
MCG has now become India’s most successful overseas venue in test matches. This was India’s fourth Test win at the venue, most among all overseas grounds. Meanwhile, India’s Predicted Playing XI is expected to see some changes heading into the third Test. One of them is a forced change with Umesh Yadav ruled out of the series. However, it brings an opportunity for the player who might take his place in the XI.
Here’s India’s Predicted Playing XI for the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground:
Also Read: Umesh Yadav Ruled Out Of The Border-Gavaskar Trophy; Replacement Named
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is likely to make a comeback in the third Test. However, he will have to give one final fitness Test to confirm his spot in the playing XI. Rohit joined his Indian teammates in Melbourne on Wednesday and looks fit from the outset to play the third Test. With Mayank Agarwal failing in both the Test matches so far, Rohit will replace him at the top of the order.
Also Read: Ravi Shastri Updates On Rohit Sharma’s Availability in Third Test
Shubman Gill
The 21-year-old did everything correct to retain his place for the third Test. He scored 45 and an unbeaten 35 in the two innings and most importantly saw India through in the second innings. Gill impressed one and all with his technique and maturity in the Boxing-Day Test and Michael Hussey event went onto say that he can play India for the next 10 years.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Pujara till now has not had the kind of series he would have liked. He has the highest score of 43 in the four innings taken together which includes a duck as well. He scored 17 & 3 in Melbourne and would like to come up with substantial contributions at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He is a key figure at number three for India in the absence of Virat Kohli and the management will hope Pujara to fire in the penultimate Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane as many say is the glue in the Indian batting line-up. In Virat Kohli’s absence, he is the stand-in captain and he will also bat at number four in the line-up. He is fresh of a match-winning century at the MCG and would like to keep his form going at the SCG.
Ideally, he would look at a repeat of his performance and lead India from the front in the absence of Virat Kohli. Rahane can score quickly and can bat according to the situation if needed as well.
KL Rahul
Rahul has won well for India in all formats in the last two years. Him getting axed from the second Test made Indian cricket fans as they vented out their anger on social media With Hanuma Vihari failing in the last Test after getting a good start and adding a fifty-plus stand with Rahane, he threw his wicket away by playing a rash shot.
He is likely to be replaced by KL Rahul who can either open either Gill or Rohit and can also bat at number five.
Also Read: T. Natarajan In Line To Make His Test Debut At Sydney, KL Rahul Might Also Play- Reports
Rishabh Pant
Pant played an impactful knock of 29 in the first innings of the Melbourne Cricket Ground Test. It was his innings which got the Indian innings moving in that partnership with Rahane. He was good with the bat keeping the Aussie bowlers at bay but faltered with his keeping. He will too keep his place in the line-up with the Indian management hoping that he improves his keeping in the next Test.
Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja scored 57 in the MCG Test and added a 121-run stand which set the base for the Indian score in the first innings. Apart from his batting skills he picked up two wickets with the ball and fielded brilliantly in the Test match. He was always an economical bowler in Test matches.
However, it is his batting that has improved over the last two years which has made a massive difference in the team. He has lent a tremendous balance to the team with the contributions that he brings with bat and ball.
Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja Joins Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni in Rare Feat After MCG Test
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin is the joint leading wicket-taker in the series so far with 10 wickets. He has given the team key breakthroughs with the ball and has made Steve Smith look like a fool a couple of times. If he can score some runs with the bat in Sydney, he will add his value for the team even more.
Ravichandran Ashwin will have to emulate his efforts at the Sydney Cricket Ground as India look to keep up their winning run going in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Also Read: Kane Williamson Overtakes Virat Kohli, Steve Smith To Become No.1 Test Batsman
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah will be one of the three pacers as India would not like to change its five-bowler theory which won them the game in Melbourne. Bumrah has picked 8 wickets in the series so far and leads the pace attack. Up against David Warner in Sydney, his match up with Bumrah will be a special contest.
In the absence of Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami, Bumrah will have to assume more responsibilities and lead the side from the front.
Also Read: Umesh Yadav Ruled Out Of The Border-Gavaskar Trophy; Replacement Named
Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj picked up a total of five wickets in his debut game in Melbourne. He bowled with pace, swing and inn a good channel keeping the Aussie batsmen guessing. Siraj overcame a personal loss to make a memorable Test debut and the team management will hope that he keeps his form going.
Siraj also add a lot of value in the fielding and will look to perform at his best to retain his place in the playing XI.
Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Hails Mohammad Siraj After Impressive Test Debut
T Natarajan
As per BCCI sources, T Natarajan is likely to make his Test debut in Sydney after making his limited-overs debut earlier in this series. The source has revealed that Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini can place play as a third seamer but the left-arm pacer looks the front-runner to play in the third Test. Being a left-arm pacer, he will also bring variety to the bowling line-up.
Also Read: T. Natarajan In Line To Make His Test Debut At Sydney, KL Rahul Might Also Play- Reports