Visiting India lost to Australia in the first Test of the series in Adelaide. The two teams will play the second of four Tests on Saturday. India is going to field with an inexperienced team in Boxing Day Test. Spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant have returned to the Indian XI in this turning point.
Also making their debuts are young opener Shubhaman Gill and fast bowler Mohammad Siraj. KL Rahul did not get a place in the announced XI of India. The middle-order batsman, who has a great rhythm, was expected to replace Virat Kohli. But Hanuma Bihari has been brought up from the lower middle order considering the huge four left.
Shubhaman Gill has been included in the XI in place of another talented Prithvi Shaw. He failed in both innings of the Adelaide Test. Bigger than failure, the question has arisen about the application and technique of his batting. Prithvi was therefore supposed to be left out. Besides, Mohammad Shami was ruled out due to injury and India's pace attack was bound to change. Fast bowler Siraj has therefore been included in the XI as a replacement for Shamir.
Since Virat Kohli will be replaced by Hanuma Bihari. So space has been vacated in the lower middle order. Spinner Rabindranath Tagore has been included in the squad for the big field at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and for batting. Besides, experienced wicketkeeper Riddhiman Saha could not do well and Rishabh Pant got another chance to prove himself.
Australia, however, are relying on the first Test XI. Injured opener David Warner could not return to the team. So Matthew Wade will open with Joe Burns. Marnus Labushan-Steve Smith will be in the next order in batting. Nathan Lyon is the only spinner in the team.
Indian XI: Mayang Agarwal, Shubhaman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Bihari, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Rabindra Jadeja, Ravish Chandan Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jaspreet Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj.
Australia XI: Matthew Wade, Joe Burns, Marnus Labushan, Steve Smith, Matthew Head, Cameron Green, Tim Payne, Pat Cummins, Michelle Struck, Nathan Lyon, George Hazlewood.
