Australia vs India, 3rd Test, Preview: Series hangs in balance heading into the iconic "Boxing Day" clash

Hosts make minor changes whilst the Indians are going in with a completely different opening combination.

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Virat Kohli Ravindra Jadeja
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Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)

This perhaps is the most perfectly poised Test series India has been a part in all their visits Down Under. India were already 2-0 down the last time they came to Melbourne, a fixture which saw the dawn of a promising career in KL Rahul and also put curtains to a legendary tenure of MS Dhoni.

This is where it all began for Karnataka youngster KL Rahul in 2014 and exactly four years later, he has been dropped from the Test team. Just when they thought they had resolved the number four chaos in ODIs, the selectors and skipper now have an opening conundrum to contemplate about in the longest format.

The Aussies, on the other hand, registered a thumping win at the Optus stadium, vindicating a long-term saying “Kangaroos never give up”. Toss again can be a result-determining factor in the Test and for Tim Paine, he would not want to become the first Australian captain to lose a Boxing Day Test to India.

Team Combinations

Australia

Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris have done a reasonable job thus far, but both batsmen are due for a big knock. The middle order comprising Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Travis Head have to be a lot more responsible and should try to not give their wicket away cheaply. Mitchell Marsh will be joining the side and he will be of great assistance to Tim Paine in the lower middle order.

The folks in focus will certainly be the fast bowlers, who were ruthless and rampant on the high-flying Perth pitch. Pat Cummins troubled the Indian skipper big time whilst Nathan Lyon just can’t stop picking big wickets. Mitchell Marsh is a great addition as well and the new ball once again will be shared by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Playing XI: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

India

The axing of both openers brings a huge void, which is expected to be filled by Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari. Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja are back in the XI and will play a crucial role in the middle order. The only fixed batting slots as of now belong to Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant.

Jadeja will handle the spin department, which proved to be a great source of joy for the hosts. The fast bowlers in focus are Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, who have been doing a good job thus far. Umesh Yadav will be on bench owing to the combination constraints.

Playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah.

Focus will be on

Nathan Lyon (Australia)

Australia’s player of the series thus far, Nathan Lyon is carrying side forward by putting up some sensational performances. On a Perth track where the Indian contingent felt there would be no assistance for spin, he ended up grabbing nine wickets and won the Man of the Match award. Once again he’ll be a huge source of headaches for the visiting batting line up.

Rohit Sharma (India)

Making his way back again into the playing XI is Rohit Sharma, who will be under the scrutiny more vociferously than ever before. The 31-year-old showed some promise in Adelaide but threw his wicket away making the fans go furious. He will be keen to mix caution and aggression more precisely as this series might be the last chance for him to prove his worth in the white jersey.

Head to Head

Overall – 96 | Australia won – 42 | India won – 25 | Tie – 1 | Draw – 26

In Australia

Matches – 46 | Australia won – 29 | India won – 6 | Draw – 11

Stat Attack

4 – Mitchell Starc needs four wickets to complete 200 scalps in Test cricket.

5 – Mayank Agarwal is set to become the fifth Indian cricketer to make his Test debut at the MCG after Kanwar Rai Singh, Probir Kumar Sen, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and KL Rahul.

Broadcast Details

TV – Sony Six and Sony Six HD

Live Streaming – Sony LIV

Match timings – 5:00 AM IST; 10:30 AM Local Time

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