India BGT 2024-25. (Source – BCCI/Twitter)
India will play Australia in the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, popularly known as the Gabba, in Brisbane from December 14. The visiting side was hammered by the Baggy Greens in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. The hosts demonstrated why they are the pioneers of the Pink-ball Test as they won the game by a comfortable 10-wicket margin. After this win, the Aussies have stormed their way back in the series, and the five-match tie is now levelled at 1-1.
With the action now shifting to Brisbane, the Rohit Sharma-led side will have to make some changes going into the game. With World Test Championship finals qualification at stake, the Indian management needs to find a solid solution and make sure they don’t repeat the same mistakes.
Let’s look at the three possible changes for India’s playing 11 for the third Test:
3. Ravindra Jadeja in for Ravichandran Ashwin:
Jadeja and Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI)
India’s team management may consider bringing in all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in place of Ravichandran Ashwin after the latter’s underwhelming performance in Adelaide. The pitch there offered little help to spinners, and Ashwin managed only one wicket in the match, that of Mitchell Marsh, while contributing 29 runs with the bat across both the innings. Since the home series against New Zealand, Ashwin’s bowling form has dipped, as he has claimed just nine wickets in three matches at an average of 41.22 on spin-friendly tracks.
In contrast, Jadeja has been in fine touch. Against New Zealand, he bagged 16 wickets at an average of 21.56. Moreover, Jadeja’s brilliance with the bat adds depth to India’s lower middle order. He has an impressive batting average of 43.75 in five Test innings in Australia and can adapt to challenging conditions. Furthermore, Jadeja has taken 14 Test wickets in Australia at an average of 21.79.
2. Rohit Sharma back as opener, KL Rahul in middle-order
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s potential swap in batting positions with KL Rahul has become a talking point ahead of the third Test. Rohit, who missed the first Test due to paternity leave, returned to the side for the pink-ball game but managed just 3 and 6, respectively. But many have called for the skipper to reclaim his opening slot to regain form.
However, Rohit’s track record in SENA countries with an average below 30 across 46 innings is a cause for concern. As an opener, his average is 37.8. KL Rahul, on the other hand, strengthened his case with a crucial 26 and 77 in Perth. Sharma himself backed Rahul as an opener before the pink-ball Test, in which the latter contributed 37 and 7. With discussions about Rohit returning to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul is likely to move down the order.
1. Bring in Akash Deep/Prasidh Krishna for Harshit Rana:
Prasidh Krishna. (Source – BCCI/Twitter)
Despite Harshit Rana’s impressive debut in Perth, where he dismissed top-order batters like Travis Head, Rana’s inexperience became visible in Adelaide. His inability to control the flow of runs saw him leak 86 runs in 16 overs without picking a wicket, putting the pressure solely on Jasprit Bumrah. With the series moving towards its critical phase, the visitors need a more experienced pacer to complement Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj. Two strong contenders to replace Rana are Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna.
Akash Deep, with his five years of experience, has excelled in domestic cricket. His ability to trouble left-handers from around the wicket could be an asset against Australia’s left-handers like Head and Usman Khawaja. Meanwhile, Krishna can extract bounce, making him an ideal candidate for the Gabba’s bouncy track. His performance in the India A vs Australia A game, where he claimed 10 wickets and contributed valuable runs, further strengthens his case.