IND vs AUS: India’s Predicted Playing XI for 3rd BGT Test

India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series completing their first target for the series – retaining the BGT. However, the hosts still have a lot riding on the series. Firstly, India need to win the ongoing BGT Test series against India by a 3-0 or a 3-1 margin to cement their place in the finals of the Global Test Championships. Secondly, the hosts are also eyeing a hattrick of Test series win against the Aussies, having won the last two BGT Test series in Australia.

Going into Test 3 to be played in Indore, there has been a lot of talk about what India’s playing XI could look like. The updated squads for the two remaining Tests had two major highlights. Firstly, pacer Jaydev Unadkat was included in the squad and secondly, KL Rahul was not named the vice-captain of the team. Keeping these pointers in mind, here’s what the Indian Playing XI may look like in the 3^rd BGT Test to be played in Indore.

Top Order

Rohit Sharma (c): The skipper will preserve his place for this one, he has been vital for the side with the bat and his captaincy. He scored a hundred in the first Test at Nagpur which remains the only hundred in the BGT so far. He’ll be opening the innings for the Men in Blue.

Shubman Gill: KL Rahul has to go, the batter has scored 20, 17, and 1 in the three times that he played in the BGT this season. Shubman Gill can be the one to replace him, Gill has been in fine form in the white-ball game. There are hopes that he’d continue similarly in the longest format.

Cheteshwar Pujara: In number three, Cheteshwar Pujara is expected to preserve his place. He played well to finish the game for India in the second innings of the 2^nd Test in Delhi staying unbeaten at 31 off 74. Pujara provides stability and balance to the XI like none else.