No Nitish Reddy; Rohit To Replace Gill With Rahul? India's Probable XI Vs Australia For 4th Test
KL Rahul could bat at No. 3 (Source: AP Photos)
The upcoming fourth Test between India and Australia is set to begin on 26 December. The game, slated to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), poses a daunting challenge for India, which looks to finalise a playing XI ahead of the mega-clash.
With captain Rohit Sharma not shining at the No. 6 spot, numerous reports indicating his return to the opening spot have once again sent things cartwheeling because if Rohit bats alongside the formidable Yashasvi Jaiswal, then where would KL Rahul bat? It is expected that the Karnataka-born batter, who has amassed 235 runs from six innings, will likely bat at number 3.
Interestingly, before the Tour Down Under began, widespread air questioned whether KL was a suitable option. However, seeing the team's batting line-up, the right-hander has proved that his calm and collected approach from time to time is what other batters need to learn from. Whether it was the challenging Pink-Ball Test or The Gabba assignment, KL Rahul impressed everyone as he walked the walk.
So, Rohit Sharma is to open, and KL Rahul at No. 3 and that is locked and loaded. However, this raises two scenarios about Shubman Gill and Nitish Kumar Reddy:
No Shubman Gill As Nitish Sits Tight At No.6
In the last three Tests, Gill has struggled to fire his bat. In fact, Gill's troubles began way before embarking on the Tour of Australia. Since January 2021, Shubman Gill has played 16 innings in overseas Test matches, accumulating 267 runs at an average of 17.80. Despite showing promise, he has not scored any half-centuries or centuries in this period, with his highest score being 36. Gill's struggles in overseas conditions have raised questions about his consistency in international Test cricket, particularly in challenging environments away from home.
On the other hand, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been the fast bowling all-rounder India needed for a very long time since Hardik Pandya's Test injury. His fast track and arrival in the Test set-up for India were solely based on his excellent show in T20 cricket, highlighting the admiration coach Gautam Gambhir poses for the star all-rounder. Nitish brings the very aggressive brand of cricket Gambhir talks about now and then. With such stupendous performances at No. 6 already, Reddy has made 179 runs from five innings at a strike rate of 72.18, saving India numerous times with his explosive cameos. Hence, Gill will likely be dropped, and NTR will hold on to his spot.
Nitish Reddy Dropped, Gill At No.6
Another scenario is Shubman Gill coming out to bat at No. 6 and Nitish Kumar Reddy being dropped since the former has a vast Test experience. Moreover, Gill's play style does not allow him to begin the attacking right at the beginning; he needs a couple of balls to settle before implementing his plans. Coming in to bat at No.6 could be a good decision for the batter because he could adjust to the moving ball. So, as per the second scenario, Gill could still be a part of the team, and Nitish could be benched.
MCG To Witness India's Spin Magic By Sundar-Jadeja Duo
On the bowling front, India is expected to include two spinners in their line-up, meaning that Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja will be playing at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, therefore not only showing brilliance with the ball but also adding depth to India's batting line-up.
The excessive heat wave conditions at the MCG won't allow pacers to bowl in tandem for a more extended period; hence, India would likely go for two spinners in their playing XI for the fourth Test. Other than this, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep will be the three pacers Rohit and co would opt for.
India's Probable XI For 4th Test vs Australia:
Yashasvi Jaiswal,Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy/ Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
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