Rohit In, Padikkal Out; Will Shubman Gill Play? India's Strongest XI For 2nd Test Vs Australia

Rohit Sharma will return to IND XI in Adelaide [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]

India had an extraordinary start to the Australia tour, securing an emphatic win in the first Test of the ongoing five-match series at Perth Stadium. Chasing a mammoth target of 534 runs, Australia were bowled out for a paltry 238-run total, losing the game by 295 runs. India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah emerged as their wrecker-in-chief with the ball, scalping eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the game. 

However, despite winning the first match, India will likely make several changes to their playing XI for the second Test in Adelaide. Skipper Rohit Sharma has joined the team and he will make his comeback in the next game. Several reports have also claimed that Shubman Gill will return to the playing XI after recovering from a finger injury. 

So, as the Indian team prepare to face the Aussies in the second Test, let's analyse and find out their strongest potential combination for this match. 

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Devdutt Padikkal To Make Room For Rohit Sharma

With Rohit Sharma returning to the Indian Test side, young batter Devdutt Padikkal will likely lose his place in the playing XI. Padikkal failed to live up to the hype in Perth Test, managing only 25 runs across both innings. So, considering KL Rahul will retain his place after his batting exploits in the first Test, Padikkal seems the frontrunner to be dropped from the second game. 

Will Shubman Gill Return?

India's promising batter Shubman Gill unfortunately missed the first Test due to a finger injury. A few reports suggest that the batter is well on track for a speedy recovery and will play the second Test against Australia. If Gill returns, Dhruv Jurel will likely make way for him, with KL Rahul replacing him down the order. 

The rest of India's playing XI will likely be unchanged, with Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj filling the remaining slots. 

India's Strongest Playing XI For 2nd Test vs Australia

Case-1 (If Shubman Gill is unfit)

Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj

Case-2 (If Shubman Gill is fit)

Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj

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