Rohit Sharma is slated to open for India against Australia in the Boxing Day Test that begins on Thursday. That would mean KL Rahul will drop to the No. 3 slot in the batting order.
Additionally, the team management are considering playing two spinners at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with Washington Sundar to partner Ravindra Jadeja, with Nitish Kumar Reddy sitting out.
Rohit has had an underwhelming run in 2024, scoring just 607 runs from 13 Tests at an average of 26.39. In the last 13 innings, he’s scored just 152 runs at an average of under 12.
In Rohit’s absence in the opening Test at Perth, KL Rahul scored 26 and 77 in the opening slot. That earned him leverage to maintain his role even when Rohit joined for the second and third Tests. In the fourth innings since, KL Rahul has scored 37, 7, 84 and 4* to emerge as India’s leading run-scorer on the tour.
With the MCG pitch expected to undergo plenty of wear and tear under the baking sun, the surface is expected to slow down which will bring the spinners into the equation.
Rohit had hinted at the possibility of playing two spinners in the pre-match press conference. “Whatever we have to do to make the best possible XI in these conditions, we will do that — whether that is playing an extra spinner or not,” said Rohit at the press conference in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The MCG curator, however, has said that he expects the seamers to get assistance from the pitch despite the weather forecast of 40 degrees Celsius on the opening day.
With that in mind, India are likely to bring in Sundar alongside Jadeja with R Ashwin making a surprise retirement announcement after third Test. India have included uncapped all-rounder Tanush Kotian as his replacement.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is locked at 1-1 after three Tests with India winning the opener by 295 runs, Australia clinching the second by 10-wickets. The third Test, at the Gabba in Brisbane, ended without a result after rain played a key role on all days.
