Rohit To Drop Pant; Shubman Gill Back? India's Probable XI For 5th Test Vs Australia

Pant to be dropped for SCG Test? [Source: AP Photos]

The wait is almost over as the 4th Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3. The series was evenly poised heading into the Boxing Day game, but the Aussie showed their class and snatched the win to go ahead in the series, 2-1.

The Pat Cummins led side outplayed Rohit Sharma's Team India in MCG as the visitors were made to look clueless with their baffling decisions. Their batters have been exposed in all four Tests so far and the senior players in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are yet to respond with the bat.

Jasprit Bumrah has been their only shining light as the pacer has been a one-man army and has picked up 30 wickets in 4 Tests as India count heavily on him. However, India still have a chance to level the series if they win in Sydney, but will Team India make any big changes?. Here's the probable XI for the 5th Test.

KL Rahul back in opening, Rohit in middle order

After Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy, KL Rahul has been India's best batter on this tour. He has looked rock solid at the top and has scored the majority of his runs at the opening slot. In the last Test, he was demoted to number 3 in order to accomodate Rohit at the top.

However, the move failed miserably. Expect KL Rahul to be back at his favourite batting spot, with Rohit demoting himself at number 5.

Gill back at number 3?

Gill hasn't been at his best in the series, but unlike others he hasn't been miserable either. For some reason, the star batter was dropped for the MCG Test, but with the series on the line, Gill should be back at number 3, where he has looked solid in his Test career.

Rohit to drop Rishabh Pant?

As per reports, Team India might drop Pant for the SCG Test as he was reckless with his shot selection in the Boxing-Day game. However, dropping him would make no sense. He is their only left-handed batter, and unlike Rohit, Kohli, has got starts, which he has failed to convert.

He hasn't looked clueless and if on song, there is no better to counter-punch the Aussies than Pant. He should be in the squad irrespective of who you drop for the next Test.

No place for Jaddu? Washington to play as lone spinner

Jadeja as a bowler has not been threatening at all in the series. The Aussie batter have played him easily and as a result, he should be dropped from the team. The Australian team won't make a spinning track for the SCG Test and having one spinner is the way to go.

Washington Sundar has been superb for the Indian team on this tour and should be the lone spinner as he might get extra bounce from the SCG pitch as well. The bowling core will remain the same as Bumrah will lead the attack alongside Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj.

India's Probable XI For SCG Test

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj

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