On Wednesday, a rather shocking news came from the Indian camp. As per a report in the Times of India, while Rohit Sharma was expected to open the innings, KL Rahul was slated to bat at No. 3. The changes did not stop there for Team India, as the management also decided to discard all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and get in an additional spinner — Washington Sundar, along with Ravindra Jadeja.
NO Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar In
That meant, the Indian bowling line up for IND vs AUS, MCG Test would look like — Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. This move could come after the Indian batting line-up has largely struggled in the current series, where the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant have majorly failed.
Plus, the MCG wicket is most likely to assist the spinners, and hence the two-spinner ploy could be adopted. Having said that, Nitish Kumar Reddy would consider himself unlucky to miss out, despite coming up with decent performances so far. In three Tests, he picked as many wickets, and scored 179 runs as well, at an average of 44.75.
IND vs AUS, 4th Test at MCG
Now, with these changes coming up in the team, it is unclear, as to where will Gill and Virat bat. Gill’s usual position on this tour has been No. 3, and Virat bats at No. 4. But in all likelihood, the management won’t really tinker with Virat’s order and let him continue at 4. Meanwhile, Gill could come in at No. 6, the position where Rohit Sharma was batting till now.
The IND vs AUS series is locked at 1-1 for now, and with WTC final spot at stake, both teams would like to register a win here. But India haven’t lost a Test here in the last 12 years, and that would play on the hosts’ mind as well.
