R Ashwin Benched, Mohammed Shami Returns; Is Rohit Sharma's Captaincy in Question? India’s Potential Lineup for 3rd Test Against Australia

New Delhi: India suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Australia in the second Test at Adelaide. After a stunning victory in the first Test, India were outplayed by Australia in every department, resulting in a resounding 10-wicket loss. This defeat will force India to reevaluate their strategies and make adjustments ahead of the crucial third Test. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 now hangs in the balance as the series is tied at 1-1 after two thrilling matches.

The form of senior batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remains a major concern, while Jasprit Bumrah‘s workload management is likely to spark debate. The third Test, set to be played in Brisbane, is known for its fast and bouncy tracks. Following the defeat and the conditions at the next venue, changes to the Indian XI seem inevitable. Let’s take a look at how India’s lineup could shape up for the third Test against Australia.

India’s Probable XI For 3rd Test

India will be hoping that Mohammed Shami joins the squad for the third Test after boarding a flight to Australia soon. If Shami is declared fit, it would be a significant boost for the Indian team. He could potentially replace Harshit Rana in the playing XI. While India included R Ashwin in the second Test, he appeared ineffective, likely due to the pitch offering little assistance for spinners.

Ashwin could once again be dropped from the XI, with Washington Sundar making a return to the team. There is a slight possibility that India might opt for an all-pace attack, but this would lengthen India’s tail. Given the current form of the top-order batters, India would likely need the cushion of a bowling all-rounder, which is where Sundar’s inclusion becomes valuable.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami/Harshit Rana/Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

There have been calls for Rohit Sharma to step down from the playing XI due to his poor form, with his struggles evident in the second Test in Adelaide. While there have been occasions in the past where captains have dropped themselves, it seems unlikely that Rohit would take such a bold decision. Even if he were inclined to do so, Gautam Gambhir may not support the move. Although Jasprit Bumrah could step in as a leadership alternative, India would lack an experienced batter if Rohit were to be dropped. The rest of the team is likely to remain unchanged.