Reports: T Natarajan in line for Test debut in Sydney; KL Rahul to return

Team India are set to again make a few changes to their playing eleven despite their morale-boosting eight-wicket victory over Australia in the Boxing Day Test. Prior to the game, India didn’t have Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami for various reasons. But despite missing out on the key players, the visiting team staged a comeback under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane.

But going into the fourth Test, Umesh Yadav could miss out after he injured himself during the Melbourne Test. T Natarajan, reportedly, is in line to make his Test debut. Earlier the Indian team management was also said to have added Shardul Thakur after fast bowler Mohammed Shami was ruled out due to a fractured forearm.

“The selectors had added Shardul Thakur (Mumbai paceman) as a replacement for Mohammed Shami (out with a fractured forearm), and there is Navdeep Saini too, but it’s very much likely that Natarajan would be preferred given that he brings variation to the attack.

“Also, as Mitchell Starc does for Nathan Lyon, he would create footmarks which spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can exploit,” a source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

In the third Test, Mohammed Siraj made his Test debut and impressed one and all. Even as Navdeep Saini is also in the Test squad, if reports are to be believed, Natarajan could get his maiden Test cap at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.

Both KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma could play

In the meantime, Rohit Sharma should be available for selection in the third Test if he manages to pass the fitness test. The 33-year-old might replace Mayank Agarwal, who has looked out of sorts thus far. KL Rahul is also said to be in contention for the penultimate Test.

“Rohit can either open the innings or come at No 5 since he can then get time to find his groove after quarantining recently. If he plays in the middle-order, KL can open the innings, or it can be vice-versa,” the source added.

Since India won the MCG Test, Team India might not have a whole lot of changes apart from replacing Umesh and finding Rohit a spot in the eleven.