2nd Test, AUS vs IND: Four changes that India could make for the Boxing Day Test

The first Test between India and Australia in Adelaide was a forgettable one for India by all means. They registered their lowest ever Test score of 36 in the second innings of the match. That unfortunate result has demoralized the entire Indian camp. And rightly so, it calls for many changes in the Indian playing XI. Here we take a look at the four possible changes for Team India ahead of the second Test at MCG.

Shami injured, Kohli to take paternity leave

If you think India’s 36 run all-out against Australia was India’s lowest point in this series, then you should get ready for yet another heartbreak. To make things worse for India, the captain and the premier batsman of the Team India Virat Kohli will leave Australia after this match to accompany his wife Anushka for her pregnancy. He will be on paternity leave and will miss the last three Tests. On the other hand, India’s bowling unit too has suffered a big blow as lead pacer Mohammad Shami injured his hand while batting against Pat Cummins in the last match. The injury is serious and he is ruled out for the remainder of the series.

India’s go-to man for crisis situations- KL Rahul is most likely to replace Kohli in the eleven. He was a permanent opener for team India during the last Australia series. But with Shubman Gill pushing hard for the opening slot, he is expected to be slotted in the middle order in place of Virat Kohli. Mohammad Siraj who had a brilliant game against Australia A is most likely to replace Shami. Saini is the other man in contention for this spot. But Siraj’s recent form may help him in this regard to edge over Saini.

Shaw and Saha to face the ax

One person who was a complete misfit in the Indian eleven for the first match was the young Prithvi Shaw. He was completely out of form and lacked confidence coming into this series. Making no difference to those observations, he didn’t trouble the scorers in both his innings. He went for a second-ball duck in the first innings and went for just four runs in the second. His U-19 vice-captain Shubman Gill is most likely to replace Shaw at top of the order. He has scored a mountain of runs in the domestic season and is in fine form as well.

Another area where India needs significant change is the wicket-keeping department. Even though Saha is the best available wicket-keeper for India at the moment, his run drought is costing India heavily, especially on away tours. Despite him being one of the most experienced and skillful keepers in the world, his inability to contribute with the bat and Pant’s sudden rise calls for an immediate change. Pant already has few overseas hundreds to his name from the very few opportunities that he has got. And most importantly, in the New Zealand series, he proved the people wrong, who took him to be a bad keeper. So Rishab Pant is most likely to come in for Saha for the second Test.

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