IND vs AUS, 3rd Test: Head to Head, Playing XI, Preview, Where to Watch on TV, Online, and Live Streaming Details

Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Since Australia’s defeat in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, there has been plenty of talk of ‘executing plans’ and ‘building up strategies’ – arguably the two most used words for touring teams who continually fail to meet expectations away from home.

The strategy would have been simple; bowl wicket to wicket, take those half chances, and not to throw the wickets away, but Australia have spectacularly botched them throughout the series. Leading into the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, they must forget what has gone by and start again. All over again.

Life is all about finding balance, right? You simply don’t think of yourself as unstoppable when things are going well and as the worst in the world when things start to fall apart.

If Australia can shake off the sluggishness that has consumed them in the ongoing series thus far, there might be a few things to cheer about on the road to Ahmedabad. They might have to unveil another strange and unseen combination during the third Test in Indore as a lot has been happening away from cricket. Injuries, ignorance, family concerns to cater to and what not?

On the other hand, India can use the last two Test matches to celebrate yet another successful Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph. Adding to it, a step closer to the World Test Championship final and have a psychological advantage over the Aussies, who they most likely will face at The Oval in London in June.

Rohit Sharma has grown in stature as a captain, skilled and defiant lower-order batting has been unearthed, and the noise and commotion between selectors and the coach now seem a distant memory, at least for now.

India have been taking the blows and enduring pain over the last decade or more. Not blaming the pitches overseas, not complaining about circumstances and having trusted the process. Well, the wheel has indeed turned, and India have made the most of the good times, clinching the last three editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy because, as life would suggest, the tough times are never too far away.

India seem to be just as balanced as a space rocket on the launch pad. They are programmed to perfection, well-oiled, and function as per the principle of action and reaction. They fight back and adapt to their surroundings and circumstances when put under pressure.

Then pile on the pressure over the opposition just as hot pressure gases are produced in a space rocket due to the fuel that gushes out. The pacers come charging in with the new ball as well as with the semi-new to make the ball reverse just like the gas let out at a very high speed from the rocket’s fin.

India, at the moment, arguably lack nothing. They are a powerhouse at home, maybe even away from it.  If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the structural systems, there’s the propulsion system in the middle with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, with Ravichandran Ashwin mainly acting as a guidance system.

They always have had spin in their arsenal but now have pace with Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, who mainly function as their payload system.

Pitch and Conditions

The surface in Indore tends to alter between very flat and very lively. It is usually a high-scoring ground, and the spinners get some bite and turn out of the wicket and could be the go-to option post Day 2. The pace and bounce will not be on quite the same level as compared to the other Indian surfaces, while temperatures in Madhya Pradesh may help to open up the dormant cracks as the game progresses.

Probable Playing XI for IND vs AUS 3rd Test India

India

India might not have a lot of headaches regarding the composition of their final XI that will take the field in Indore, but if there was one? Should KL Rahul continue to open at the top? Or should he be dropped to give Shubman Gill a chance? Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav are part of the squad, but unless there are niggles or injury concerns to either Siraj or Shami, India could go in with the same team that won in Delhi.

Probable Playing XI – Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul/Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami

Australia

Hit by injuries, and return flights for a wide array of reasons, Australia’s sinking ship can be rescued by the stand-in skipper Steven Smith at the rudder leading into the third Test. The allrounder Cameron Green and pace spearhead Mitchell Starc are expected to be back.

The wild thing, Lance Morris is a front-runner to take Murphy’s place if Australia decide to go with just two spinners. Travis Head’s brilliance in the second innings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium could bag him the opener’s spot and can fill in for David Warner. Morris or Scott Boland must warm the bench if Todd Murphy gets the nod. The question is whether a rejuvenated Steve Smith is a ‘conditions captain’ or a ‘philosophical one’.

Probable Playing XI – Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Lance Morris, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon

IND vs AUS Head-to-Head

Played- 104 Draw – 28