India won the toss and elected to bowl first under overcast skies in the crucial third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday. With the series tied at 1-1, this match is pivotal in deciding the fate of the BGT 2024-25.
India captain Rohit Sharma announced two changes to the lineup, bringing in all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and right-arm seamer Akash Deep in place of Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana. Explaining the decision to field first, Rohit said, “The pitch looks a bit soft with some grass, and the overcast conditions give us a chance to exploit it early. It’s a big game, and we’re ready to play good cricket to capture key moments, something we missed in the previous match.”
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The Indian skipper added that the dressing room atmosphere is energetic, with players eager to take the field. “The conditions might ease for batting as the game progresses, so we want to make the most of this opportunity upfront,” Rohit remarked.
Australia also made one change to their lineup, with Josh Hazlewood returning to the side after recovering from a side strain, replacing Scott Boland, who had performed well with the pink ball in Adelaide. Australian captain Pat Cummins acknowledged they would have also chosen to bowl first if given the chance.
“It’s been a fantastic series so far. Adelaide’s early finish allowed us to prepare well for this match. Just one change for us, with Hazlewood coming back,” Cummins said.
Also See: Day 1 called off due to rain in Brisbane
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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