India Playing XI: IND vs AUS Ahmedabad Test – With WTC Final on the line, Team India leaving no stone unturned for the final Test at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad of Border Gavaskar Trophy starting March 9. Mohammed Shami has replaced Siraj in the playing XI, while Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid have placed faith in Shubman Gill and Srikar Bharat despite their failures in Indore Test. Umesh Yadav has retained his place in the playing XI owing to his terrific display in the third Test against Australia. Follow IND vs AUS Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
India Playing XI 4th Test: Mohd Shami to replace Mohd Siraj, no place for KL Rahul as Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid keep faith in Shubman Gill for Ahmedabad Test, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates
A 9-wicket thrashing in Indore has forced Rohit Sharma & Co to change plans. While a confident Rohit was pondering a lush green pitch to prepare for the WTC Final, things have changed now. Instead, Team India are looking to keep a resurgent Australia at the bay.
The best way to do that is to continue playing on a surface that aids spin. But all Australian spinners have managed to ace the Test with Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matt Khunemann bagging a fifer each. For India, batters have not shown the similar grit that Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara or even Axar Patel have shown.
Virat Kohli has had a no-show in three Tests while both openers KL Rahul and Shubman Gill have both failed so far. Shreyas Iyer for all his attacking intent could not salvage India’s innings in Indore. KS Bharat has shown his keeping skills but he too has been a batting now-show.
With India in a must-win situation, India need both departments to fire in tandem in Ahmedabad. That is why, adding an extra batter, and sacrificing a pacer isn’t ruled out. Mohammed Siraj & Umesh Yadav combined bowled only 13 overs in Indore. In fact, Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav combined have bowled only 61.1 overs in the entire series.
India Playing XI 4th Test: Mohd Shami replaces Siraj, no place for KL Rahul as Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid keep faith in Shubman Gill for Ahmedabad Test, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates
IND vs AUS Ahmedabad Test: Should India opt for an extra batter?
- India have so far played with 6 specialist batters and three all-rounders.
- But with pacers severely unutilised due to pitch conditions, there is an argument for an extra batter.
- Furthermore, India’s big guns have struggled against spin at their own backyard.
- Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel are the only two Indian batters to cross 30+ average.
- While Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have managed half-centuries, they have not been consistent.
- However, despite not getting wickets, Axar Patel has held the lower order together. Hence, he will stay on.
- But with Mohammed Siraj set to be rested for Mohammad Shami, India may use the extra place for a batter.
- In that case, India could look at Suryakumar Yadav to add some attacking power in the middle order.
India Playing XI 4th Test:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Suryakumar Yadav/ Umesh Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Srikar Bharat (WK)
- Axar Patel
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Mohammed Shami
As for the wicketkeeper slot, Team India still don’t trust Ishan Kishan with his keeping abilities in Tests. Hence, KS Bharat will continue despite poor yields in the three Tests. Bharat has averaged 14.25 in the three matches with the highest score of 23, a big downgrade considering how Rishabh Pant played match-saving knocks even on turning pitches against England at home.
India Squad 4th Test: Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Umesh Yadav
India Playing XI 4th Test: Mohd Shami to replace Mohd Siraj, no place for KL Rahul as Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid keep faith in Shubman Gill for Ahmedabad Test, Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates
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