NEW DELHI: Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes India will make at least two changes for the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide starting December 6.
After the stunning victory in the first Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India will play a two-day warm-up match against the Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval in the Australian capital Canberra from Saturday.
Border Gavaskar Trophy
The Warm-up game with pink balls in Canberra is of utmost importance for India as it will be the only practice match they can play before the second day-night Test in Adelaide.
And it will also be the captain's first game Rohit Sharma on this trip to Australia as he missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his son.
Speaking to 7Cricket, Gavaskar said: “I think there will be two changes for sure, both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are returning to the 11.”
Young Devdutt Padikkal is expected to be replaced by returning captain Rohit Sharma in the Indian starting XI for the second Test in Adelaide.
Everyone will be fascinated KL Rahul's batting position in the pink-ball warm-up game in Canberra.
Where will KL Rahul bat when Rohit Sharma returns to the starting XI for the Adelaide Test?
Rahul could slot in at number three in place of Padikkal depending on whether the injured Gill recovers in time for the game.
Gill missed the first Test match and is yet to start batting in the nets after suffering a hairline fracture during the intra-squad game at the WACA.
Gavaskar continued: “I feel the batting order will change. Where Rohit Sharma will replace Rahul, Shubman Gill will bat at three, Padikkal and Jurel will go out of the team, Rahul will bat at six.”
At Adelaide Oval, spin bowling could be the only tactical change made to the starting lineup.
In Perth, Washington Sundar was selected ahead of the two experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Before making 36 all-out in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide in December 2020, Ashwin handed India the lead in the first innings with figures of 4 for 45, including a brilliant dismissal of Steven Smith.
However, based on their recent performance in the nets, Ashwin, Jadeja and Washington no longer offer much choice. Additionally, batting is crucial in pink-ball Tests as the spinners are not used that often.
Gavaskar concludes: “And another change that could happen is that Jadeja takes the place of Washington Sundar.”
India's success in Test matches abroad has been largely attributed to Jadeja's batting performance, although Washington, a left-handed batsman, has also performed admirably in Test matches. In Perth, he helped India surpass the 500-run mark by forming an 89-run partnership Virat Kohli.
