With India captain, Virat Kohli already back in India to witness the birth of his first child and Mohammed Shami out of the series due to an injury, multiple changes are expected in the Indian playing XI for the second Test against Australia in Melbourne scheduled to be commencing on Saturday. Apart from a couple of forced changes, there can be a few others also after India’s dismal batting performance in the second innings in the first Test, which was visible during the net sessions on Wednesday.
India recorded their lowest ever Test total – 36 – in the second innings in Adelaide and as a result, they lost the game by 8 wickets despite having a lead of 53 runs in the first innings. The intensity levels in the practice session in Melbourne were high with stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Shastri keeping a close eye on the proceedings.
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Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja spent long hours in the nets, suggesting that they might be in the scheme of things for the Boxing Day Test match. Gill, who hasn’t made his Test debut yet, looked in fine touch against the seamers and appears to be replacing Prithvi Shaw as Mayank Agarwal’s partner.
Nice and clean from @RealShubmanGill 😎 #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/oHGQsJhDHh
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 23, 2020
Shaw, whose technique against the in-coming deliveries in both innings of the day-night Test, was also spotted in the nets with batting coach Vikram Rathour. Meanwhile, Jadeja was also seen bowling an hour-long spell to confirm his fitness. The all-rounder had missed the final two T20Is and the first Test due to a concussion and a hamstring injury suffered during the first T20I.
Jadeja bowling a long spell in nets. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/VFmCdCMEZf
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) December 23, 2020
After seeing R Ashwin’s performance in the first Test, he will be expected to retain his position as India might opt to go with -two spinners in the second Test. The possibility of a five-bowler attack also cannot be ruled out with either Mohammed Siraj or Navdeep Saini getting his Test cap in place of the injured Mohammed Shami.
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If India does play both Jadeja, Ashwin, and three seamers, then Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari will be expected to bat up the order and Rishabh Pant could come in place of Wriddhiman Saha purely because of his batting skills.
The fact that both Jadeja and Pant will provide different angles for the Australian fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc is also on the Indian Team management’s mind.
