In a bid to save Border-Gavaskar Test series, Team India have announced four changes to their playing XI for the second Test match of the series which is to be played at MCG beginning on Boxing Day. Two of them were forced changes with regular captain Virat Kohli opting to come back to India on paternity leave while Mohammad Shami injured his right fore-arm (his bowling arm) in the first Test match of the series while batting in India’s second innings.
In their place, two young players Shubman Gill and Mohammad Siraj will make their Test debut for India at MCG. On the other hand, Prithvi Shaw and Wriddhiman Saha have been dropped owing to their poor form with the bat. In their place, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja have been recalled into the side.
Considering India’s playing XI, it would be interesting to see the top 4 in the batting line-up. Questions galore – Who opens with Mayank Agarwal at MCG? Who bats at no. 4 in the absence of Kohli? If Pujara opens with Mayank, will captain Ajinkya Rahane move up to the No. 3 position? Too many questions which will only be answered on Boxing Day! Stay tuned!
For the record, home team Australia won the first Test match and are currently leading the 4-match series by 1-0. Going into the second Test of the series at MCG, the home team look pretty settled side having already announced their unchanged playing XI for the second Test. Joe Burns and Cameron Green would grab much light in this second Test having troubled in the Adelaide Test match.
India playing XI for second Test: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
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