On Tuesday, the Indian team management announced its playing XI for the third Test against Australia starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day, December 26. Usually, the Indian team announces the final 12 or 13 before a match and only after the toss they reveal their playing XI but this time around, Virat Kohli’s and men gave a surprise to their fans by announcing a sureshot playing XI a day before the Boxing Day Test. The India-Australia series is currently leveled at 1-1 as the Indian team won the first one in Adelaide and Australia winning the next one in Perth.
India have made three changes to the squad as KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, and Umesh Yadav will be sitting out and the opening combination will witness a completely different pair. Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane form a formidable middle-order followed by Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant, who will don the gloves once again for the Boxing Day Test.
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The team management meanwhile, decided to include Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad in place of KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, and Umesh Yadav. Mayank Agarwal is set to finally make a debut in the Indian team.
India name Playing XI for 3rd Test: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/DImj8BVTj5
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 24, 2018
Rahul and Umesh were poor with the bat and ball, respectively, in the second Test match in Perth and hence, will warm the bench now. Rahul has managed just 48 runs in four innings till now while Umesh got just 2 wickets for 139 runs in the second match which India lost by 146 runs.
Vijay and Murali Rahul have struggled in Australia in the first two Tests and the lack of runs at the top has intensified pressure on the middle order of a team which has a lengthy tail.
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The fast bowlers meanwhile, have been retained as it was a no-brainer owing to their superb performances in the series so far. Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will continue to lead the pace attack.
India name Playing XI for 3rd Test: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
