Major changes expected in batting order as out-of-form Rohit Sharma returns at top, India to go with 2 spinners for MCG Test

Major changes expected in batting order as out-of-form Rohit Sharma returns at top, India to go with 2 spinners for MCG Test
Captain Rohit Sharma with head coach Gautam Gambhir

Story Highlights:

Rohit Sharma has scored just 19 runs in last 3 innings on Australian soil.

KL Rahul is India's leading run-scorer in the series.

Washington Sundar is likely to replace Nitish Reddy for MCG Test.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is evenly poised at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day Test. As conditions have slightly changed, a few changes in the batting order are expected. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma who opted not to tinker with the opening partnership when he joined the squad after Perth Test is set to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

Rohit has struggled in the middle order and scored just 19 runs from three innings. His return to no.6 has not been fruitful. Meanwhile, KL Rahul has scored two half-centuries in three Tests. He is India's leading run-scorer in the series but he is set to return to middle-order to make way for his skipper. 

Earlier, there were speculations that Shubman Gill will be sent to bat at no.6 and Rahul will bat at no.3. However, it would be a big challenge for Gill with little time to adjust. He has only batted in top order his entire career. The team management has decided his ability to be aggressive against pacers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Meanwhile, there is a possibility that Rahul may bat at no.5 if India lose early wickets so that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant faces a slightly older ball. 

Rahul has scored two consecutive centuries in Boxing Day Tests he has played in. His last Boxing Day Test century came against South Africa in Centurion but in a losing cause. Once again, Rahul will have to adjust. At no.6, he has scored 234 runs from six Tests at an average of 29.25 including one century and one fifty.

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Long discussion between captain, coach and chief selector

During Team India's last net session on December 24, Rohit, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were seen having a discussion for more than half an hour. According to the sources, Rohit will open considering the weather conditions.

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Sundar and Jadeja at MCG

The temperature is expected to touch 40 degrees and it may pave the way for a second spinner. Washington Sundar is likely to replace fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Sundar was part of the playing XI in the Perth Test and was replaced by now-retired Ravichandran Ashwin. Sundar will bowl in tandem with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja who remained wicketless but contributed with a crucial half-century in the Gabba Test.