India vs Australia: Probable India XI for 3rd Test in Indore

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With the second Test between India and Australia set to start on March 1 in Indore, the talks around Team India's predicted XI has started to gain momentum.

India fielded an unchanged eleven in the second Test in Delhi and took a 2-0 lead after winning the match by six wickets. All have gone decently well for Rohit Sharma's team except for the constant failure of opener KL Rahul who was sacked from his vice-captaincy duties following the Delhi Test.

The good form of Shubman Gill, who has warmed the bench in the first two matches, had added extra pressure on him. Former cricketers and experts have also backed Gill to replace the out-of-form Karnataka batter. On Monday the two batters batted simultaneously in the nets under the supervision of coach Rahul Dravid. For now it looks as if Rahul is still competing for a place with Gill.

Gill or Rahul? What would be the final verdict?

However, considering the magnanimity of the match - India could look to give Gill a chance. Notably, India need to win the ongoing series 3-1 or 4-0 to book a spot in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23.

Three pacer and two spinners or three spinners and two pacers?

The Indian team management has opted to play with three spinners and two pacers thus far, but the template is likely to change in the third Test because of the nature of the Indore track.

Indore Pitch Report

According to media reports, red soil which assists fast bowlers and brings a lot of bounce with it has been brought in from Mumbai. The bouncy nature of the pitch will also help the batters to play shots on the up. The same was not possible on the spinning tracks of Nagpur and Delhi, however, Australia would fancy winning their first-ever match in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 as they are more used to such surfaces. Their batters are more used to playing on bouncy tracks, while the likes of pacer Mitchell Starc and fast-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green are certain of being introduced in the Australian XI to make the best use of the opportunity.

The situation will call for change in Team India's batting combination. Apart from Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj - the two pacers who have played the first two Tests - Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat are the two other fast bowlers in the team. Umesh most likely would not be available for the Test due to the death of his father, and that clears the door for left-arm pacer Unadkat if at all India opts to play with three pacers. Unadkat is in fine form and recently led Saurashtra to Ranji Trophy triumph. The situation could also force India's inform all-rounder Axar Patel to sit out. The senior spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin would most likely make for two spinners in the team.

KS Bharat or Ishan Kishan?

KS Bharat did not have a perfect start with the bat in his debut Test in Nagpur but his glovework behind the stumps has been the talk of the town. Also, he scored unbeaten 23 runs off 22 balls in the second innings of the second Test. The management is certain of persisting with him. Ishan Kishan's wait for a debut Test match will very likely continue.

India predicted XI for 3rd Test vs Australia: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj