The Indian cricket team is all set to make some surprising changes to their playing XI for the must-win Boxing Day Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia, starting on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma is all set to return as the opener in the fourth Test against Australia. A Times of India journalist claimed that Rohit Sharma will open the innings alongside young talent Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Boxing Day Test against the Australian side at the MCG.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma removes KL Rahul as opener, finalizes India’s new opening pair for MCG Test
India set to play two spinners in the Boxing Day Test; Nitish Kumar Reddy set to be dropped
With this change, KL Rahul is expected to shift to the No. 3 position in the batting order for the crucial Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne. In a crucial decision for the must-win fourth Test, India is also considering playing two spinners.
Ravindra Jadeja is a sure pick for the MCG showdown, but Nitish Kumar Reddy will have to make way for Washington Sundar in the playing XI. Nitish Kumar Reddy will be dropped for the much-awaited clash as India is favoring Washington Sundar to keep their hopes alive in the ongoing Test series.
Rohit Sharma very likely to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul at No.3. Team considering two spinners – Washington Sundar could play in place of Nitish Reddy. But Rohit very likely to open tomorrow at MCG @toisports
— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) December 25, 2024
This decision hinted that the Indian team management expects the Melbourne pitch to favor spin. Well, if India plays KL Rahul at No. 3, then it will be interesting to see where they accommodate Shubman Gill in the upcoming fourth Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
Will it be a right decision to drop Nitish Kumar Reddy?
Many have been slamming Rohit Sharma for this selfish call, as KL Rahul has been brilliant as an opener so far in the ongoing five-match Test series in Australia. On the other hand, Nitish Kumar Reddy has not done anything wrong in his debut Test series, even in such tough conditions.
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Reddy is currently the fourth highest run getter in the ongoing BGT 2024-25 with 179 runs in five innings at an average of over 44 and a strike rate of 72. He was also a handy pacer for the Indian cricket team, taking three wickets in 27 overs so far on the Australia tour.
So, it doesn’t surely make any sense to drop the pacer bowling all-rounder for Sundar, especially when the youngster saved India twice Down Under. Meanwhile, there’s uncertainty about Shubman Gill’s role in the upcoming MCG Test match between India and Australia.
Shubman Gill likely to bat at N.6 in the MCG Test
Shubman Gill might be asked to bat at number six, where Rohit Sharma played in the last two matches, or he could be dropped entirely, with players like Dhruv Jurel or Sarfaraz Khan potentially taking a spot in the middle order for the crucial BGT match at the MCG.
Given Gill’s modest away record of 616 runs in 22 innings at an average of 30.80, his exclusion wouldn’t come as a surprise. Even the right-handed batter could not make any impact in the last two matches, scoring 31, 28, and 1, after missing the first Test in Perth due to an injury.