BCCI announces India's playing XI for Boxing Day Test against Australia; Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj to debut

Australia and India are set to lock horns in the second Test of the four-match series on Saturday. The visitors will miss their talismanic skipper Virat Kohli who is on a paternal leave and pacer Mohammed Shami who got injured during the first Test. It was clear that India will make two forced changes in the line-up and they have dropped a couple more player for the crucial game at the MCG.

Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj are set to make their Test debut. While the former has replaced Prithvi Shaw in the line-up after his similar mode of dismissals in Adelaide, Siraj has come in for the injured Shami as the third pacer. The Hyderabad pacer lost his father while he was on tour and he will be keen on making an impact on his debut and dedicate it to his father.

Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja is also set to make his comeback after not playing since the first T20I on the tour. He got hit on his head while batting during the match and was ruled out of the T20I series due to concussion. Moreover, hamstring injury also ruled him out of the first Test. The fourth and last change in the XI is Rishabh Pant who has replaced Wriddhiman Saha.

Hanuma Vihari likely to bat at four

If the line-ups given by BCCI on Twitter is considered, Hanuma Vihari looks the likeliest candidate to replace Virat Kohli at number four. The skipper Ajinkya Rahane will bat at five only it seems. Vihari batted at four during the warm-up games which was an indication of him taking over the position once Kohli leaves.

India will be taking the field with both spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin after a long time in an away Test. Jadeja was preferred previously in away matches but Ashwin’s brilliant performance in Adelaide couldn’t be ignored either. Team India will now be hoping to make a stunning comeback in the series after losing the opening Test from a good position.

India’s playing XI for Boxing Day Test: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

ALERT🚨: #TeamIndia for 2nd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia to be played in MCG from tomorrow announced. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4g1q3DJmm7

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2020