In the second Test of the five-match Test series, India are set to make at least two changes to their playing XI when Rohit Sharma's men take on Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Friday. The second Test of the series will be a day-night affair and be played with a pink ball.
In the India playing XI, captain Rohit is expected to replace Devdutt Padikkal while Dhruv Jurel is expected to make way for Shubman Gill.
With the discussions largely hinging on the opening slot,
Rohit confirmed KL Rahul will open the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. The 37-year-old batter added he would drop to the middle order.
Rohit had also occupied the middle-order slot during the tour game vs Prime Minister's XI. Rahul, meanwhile, did the opener's job exceptionally well so for him to retain the spot in the playing XI does not come as a surprise.
In the bowling department, the seamers are expected to continue and so is
Washington Sundar as the solitary spinner despite R Ashwin's solid record at Adelaide.
For the hosts,
Scott Boland has come into the playing XI as a replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood. It is the only change for Australia despite a
295-run hammering in Perth. Mitchell Marsh has been passed fit to bowl.
The 35-year-old Boland will play his first Test match since last year's Ashes when he fronts up for the pink ball match.
Marsh, who pulled up sore after bowling 17 overs in Perth, prompted selectors to add uncapped all-rounder
Beau Webster as injury cover.
Australia captain pat Cummins said he expected Marsh to bowl at some stage in the day-night Test despite carrying a reported back injury and not bowling at training.
India vs Australia 2nd Test predicted playing 11
Australia XI (official): Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India XI (predicted): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (capt), Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj