India vs Australia: India declares playing XI for Boxing Day Test, Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj set to debut as Ravindra Jadeja returns


India vs Australia: India declares playing XI for Boxing Day Test, Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj set to debut as Ravindra Jadeja returns

Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill

Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill
Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill

India have declared their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test. And they have made four changes to the side which succumbed to an eight-wicket loss in Adelaide. The young duo of Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj are set to make their Test debut at the iconic MCG tomorrow. Gill comes into the side replacing a struggling Prithvi Shaw at the top of the order. While Siraj comes in as a forced change following Mohammed Shami‘s injury.

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All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja replaces captain Virat Kohli for the crucial encounter. Kohli headed back home for the birth of his first child following the series opener. Jadeja missed the first Test owing to a hamstring strain he picked up in the T20 series. It will the first occasion in a long time when India takes to the field with two top-quality spin options in an overseas Test. Ravichandran Ashwin held on to his place in the side following an impressive four-wicket haul in Adelaide.

Wriddhiman Saha makes way for Rishabh Pant

Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant
Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant

A big debate over the wicket-keeping option ensued following India’s eight-wicket mauling in the pink-ball Test. And it looks like the visitors are desperate to keep the series alive as they included Rishabh Pant in the side for the Boxing Day Test. Wriddhiman Saha was picked ahead of the Delhi lad for the series opener owing to his superior glovework. But the Bengal wicketkeeper disappointed both with the bat and glove ultimately losing his place in the side. Pant ramped up a whirlwind ton in the second warm-up game to boost his confidence and that of the team management in his batting prowess.

KL Rahul‘s exclusion from the side comes as a surprise for many. Rahul was hailed as the perfect candidate to replace Kohli in the middle order by many pundits. But to the surprise of all, the think tank picked Jadeja for the vacancy. The Boxing Day Test will be a huge one for middle-order batter Hanuma Vihari who also failed miserably in the pink-ball Test.

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Vihari’s handy off-spin and superior technique might have just saved from the verge of being dropped. But it will be interesting to see how long the Andhra batsman can hold on to his place in the side if he hails at the MCG.

India’s Playing XI for Boxing Day Test: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill (debut), Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj (debut)

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