Team India's playing XI for 3rd Test against Australia announced

Cricket Desk: The good news is Rohit Sharma will be available for the Sydney Test. It means fans can expect changes in India’s starting line-up against Australia for the 3rd Test in Sydney starting January 7. Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Shastri will have a task at hand to pick the best XI to take a lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

The explosive batsman skipped the major part of the ongoing tour with a hamstring injury, but joined the team last week after completing his mandatory 14-day quarantine.

He was appointed the vice-captain of the Test squad for the first time in his career, replacing Cheteshwar Pujara who was entrusted with the responsibility for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

It means he will certainly be part of the squad that will take the ground on Thursday. Rohit will most likely resume duties in his regular role as an opener.

The question remains is with whom?

India’s playing XI vs Australia for 3rd Test: Who will Rohit Sharma open with? Mayank Agarwal or Shubman Gill

Both Agarwal and Gill are in contention to be paired up with Rohit for the upcoming match. However, going by their recent performances, Gill has an edge over his senior counterpart. The youngster had a big impact in his Test debut in the Melbourne Test. His scores in the two innings were 35 and 45, and looked very settled and confident against the fierce Australian pace batteries.

Agarwal, on the other hand, is likely to miss out on his place in the Indian playing XI after a string of poor scores. In four innings – 1st Test and 2nd Test combined – the 29-year-old has scored just 31 runs.

With Rohit and Gill taking the opening slot and Cheteshwar Pujara at No.3, another task for the Indian team management would be the No.4.

India’s playing XI vs Australia for 3rd Test: Will Hanuma Vihari get another chance at No.4 position?

It is one batting position where the Indian team can be termed as a failure. Despite having potential players to fill the void, the management has failed to solve the No.4 conundrum. And it has once again come to haunt them.

India entrusted Hanuma Vihari for the first two tests – Adelaide and Melbourne – however, in three innings, he has not crossed the 25-run mark.

KL Rahul was the frontrunner, however, an untimely wrist injury meant he will have to return to India for rehabilitation.

This has opened opportunity for India to play both Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill.

The last change is in the bowling department. Who will replace Umesh Yadav?

India’s playing XI vs Australia for 3rd Test: Who will be India’s 3rd fast bowler? Shardul Thakur or T Natarajan

BCCI included Shardul Thakur in the test squad after Mohammed Shami was ruled out due to a hairline fracture. Natarajan, on the other hand, replaced Umesh Yadav who returned to India after a calf injury.

According to a report by PTI, Thakur is the front-runner to replace Umesh for the third test. A capped player in the longest format, he made his test debut against West Indies in 2018. Though it came to an end after 10 balls as he suffered an injury.

“Shardul was really unfortunate that his Test debut against West Indies ended abruptly due to injury even before he could bowl an over. He has been shaping up well and might replace Umesh in the playing XI,” a source told PTI.

Natarajan, who made his ODI and T20 debut on the tour, has impressed many but has not played much first-class cricket. He is a gift of Indian Premier League (IPL) to Indian cricket.  It would be interesting how things unfurl for the two pacers as only one will be given the chance in Sydney.

India play Australia in Sydney starting January 7.

India’s playing XI (Possible): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal/Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur/T Natarajan, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.