Rohit Sharma-led India benched young batter Shubman Gill from the playing XI of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne. Team India added Washington Sundar in place of young Gill to feature with two spinners in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Gill's exclusion from the playing XI raised a lot of questions about why the India star who holds a great record on Australian soil is missing out from the playing XI. However, India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar revealed that the management took this decision considering the conditions in Melbourne and Gill has not dropped he is just unable to find his way in the combination.
"Looking at the pitch, we felt Washi could give solidarity along with Jaddu. I feel for Shubman but he understands. He’s not really dropped, just couldn’t find his way in the combination. (On why Shubman was dropped)" Abhishek Nayar told media after Day 1.
Apart from Shubman Gill's absence Nayar also revealed Rohit Sharma's batting position in Boxing Day Test. India's captain will bat in his original position. He will open for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.
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Coming back to the Day 1 game, Australia managed to get a good start after opting to bat against India where Australia debutant Sam Konstas scored 60 runs and apart from that Usman Khawaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72), and Steve Smith (68 not out) all contributed with fifties on a good batting surface that helped the hosts to score 311 runs on Day 1 after losing six wickets. India's Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with three scalps conceding 75 runs.