Rohit Sharma to Open in India’s Likely XI for 3rd Test vs Australia

Rohit Sharma to Open in India’s Likely XI for 3rd Test vs Australia: That particular Test is actually the third of the currently running five-match test-house contest between India and Australia, which is set to begin from Saturday, December 14. This match is scheduled to be played at The Gabba in Brisbane. Last time India played at this ground against the Baggy Greens was in January 2021, when they chased down a target of 328 runs-a record in itself. A group of players, therefore, who failed in that æTaka Test-the one lost by India by 10 wickets on Sunday (December 8)-will be hoping to return big from Brisbane on this occasion, once again taking the visitors ahead among the current standings.

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As for the third Test of the series Down Under here, Indian team management might change as many as two players in the final playing eleven. Harshit Rana, after a rather forgettable show in Adelaide, where he failed to take any wickets and also scored zero in both innings, is set to make way either for Akash Deep or Prasidh Krishna.

In January 2024, Prasidh last played a Test match for India against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. The chances are high that Bengal pacer Akash Deep is going to get preference over him as Rana's replacement.

Legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who happens to be the highest wicket-taker in history in the World Test Championship (WTC), is also expected to make way for Washington Sundar. Sundar played in the first Test of the series at Optus Stadium in Perth last month but was omitted from the playing XI in favour of Ashwin for the Adelaide Test.

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Indian captain Rohit Sharma batted at No. 6 in that day-night Test. Little, though, he scored massively and got out scoring 3 and 6 runs in two innings. He is most probable to return to his preferred position and open the batting once again with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the innings.

Firstly, this reappearance of Rohit at the top means K.L. Rahul will once again don the role of a middle-order batsman. This Karnataka batter of 32 years marks his entry into Test cricket on 26 December 2014 at Melbourne, scoring 430 runs in 16 Test innings batting at number 3, 4, and 6.

The doubts about Jasprit Bumrah's fitness before the match have cleared, and the world No. 1 Test bowler will be spearheading India's pace attack at The Gabba.

India's playing XI for the 3rd Test against Australia contains the following players: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

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