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IND vs AUS: India announce playing XI for third Test in Sydney

Rohit Sharma in, Navdeep Saini to make Test debut

Australia India Cricket India made a remarkable comeback to level the series 1-1 against Australia in the second Test at Melbourne | AP

Rohit Sharma will open India’s batting with Shubman Gill in the third Test against Australia as the visitors announced their playing XI on Wednesday for the match in Sydney. Navdeep Saini will make his Test debut for India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

With Rohit back in the team, Mayank Agarwal has been made to sit out following an average show with the bat in the previous matches. Rohit will also be the vice-captain of the team.

Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane has said that Rohit has been batting really well in the nets and he would be seen batting at the top of the innings in the upcoming Test.

Umesh Yadav’s injury during the second Test in Melbourne meant that either Saini or T. Natarajan had the opportunity to be part of the playing XI. Umesh had sustained a strain in his left calf muscle and will not be available for the remaining two Test matches.

India will also have spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the third Test. The two, along with Rahane, were monumental in India’s victory at Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah will be leading the pace attack, with Mohammad SiraJ and Saini on tow.

During the pre-match presser, Rahane said Siraj’s performance has been “really exceptional”.  

“We’ll definitely miss Umesh and Shami but that gives opportunity to other guys to come and do well at the highest level. It’s not about one or two individuals, it’s about the bowling unit. As a team we want to do well. I’m really happy for Siraj. The way he bowled in the last game, especially when Umesh got injured in the second innings. Siraj was really exceptional,” he said.

India’s Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

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