Search

show me:

India make four changes for second Test

3 minute read

India have made four changes for the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG as they aim to bounce back from a horror collapse in Adelaide.

India captain VIRAT KOHLI.
India captain VIRAT KOHLI. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

India have wielded the axe after their record Adelaide collapse, bringing in four fresh faces for the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

Captain Virat Kohli (parental leave) and Mohammed Shami (broken arm) were already forced omissions, but the changes haven't ended there.

Explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has earned a recall as the tourists aim to bounce back at the MCG.

Veteran keeper Wriddhiman Saha makes way for Pant, while the uncapped Shubman Gill comes in for an out-of-sorts Prithvi Shaw.

Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja is over his injury concerns and has been included, as has pace debutant Mohammed Siraj.

India had the edge over Australia heading into day three of the first Test before an almighty collapse saw them skittled for 36 - the lowest total in their history.

Batsman Ajinkya Rahane takes the reins from Kohli for the remainder of the four-Test series and says he is unconcerned by the mind games happening in the wake of the dramatic second innings capitulation.

Australian coach Justin Langer declared he would be fine if the tourists were feeling the pressure after the eight-wicket loss.

"Australians are very good at playing mind games and we let them do that," Rahane told reporters.

"We are just focusing on ourselves, what we want to do as a team, as a unit, and we will back ourselves as a team."

Rahane says India will take confidence from their resounding win against Australia at the MCG in 2018, which ensured they retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

The teams then played out a draw at the SCG, meaning India won a Test series in Australia for the first time, taking the spoils 2-1.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au