IND vs AUS: India announce playing 11 for 3rd Test; Rohit Sharma to open, Saini debuts

After leveling the series 1-1 at MCG, the Indian cricket team will travel to Sydney to face the Aussies for the third Test. The test will be a Pink Test and a favourable result is needed for both teams to advance themselves higher in the World Test Championship points table. The BCCI has announced the playing eleven for the Indian team for this fixture, and as expected Rohit Sharma makes it to the team and is slotted in at the opening position. Pacer Navdeep Saini will make his debut and will replace injured Umesh Yadav.

India announce playing XI, Rohit to open

NEWS – #TeamIndia announce Playing XI for the 3rd Test against Australia at the SCG.

Navdeep Saini is all set to make his debut.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lCZNGda8UD

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 6, 2021

After India won the last Test match there was severe confusion regarding the playing eleven for the third Test. Umesh Yadav was injured and Rohit Sharma had finished his quarantine after that match. And rightly so, this meant that the winning combination was to be regrouped yet again.

The BCCI, like the previous two occasions, have announced the playing eleven one day prior to the match. As expected the veteran Rohit Sharma will be opening the innings and Mayank Agarwal who failed in the first two Tests will make way for him. He will be opening alongside young sensation Shubman Gill. The team management has decided to stick with Hanuma Vihari in the middle order.

Navdeep Saini to make his debut

Young pacer Navdeep Saini will replace his RCB teammate Umesh Yadav for the third Test. Umesh was injured during the second Test and is ruled out for the rest of the tour. Earlier there were reports that either T Natarajan or Shardul Thakur may play ahead of Saini owing to the current form. But the management has decided to stick with Saini despite Natarajan being fast-tracked into the Test squad.

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