IND vs AUS 2nd Test: India opts to bat first; Rohit, Gill, and Ashwin return to XI

Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. The pink-ball day-night encounter carries significant weight, as India leads the series 1-0 after a commanding 295-run victory in Perth.

India has made three changes to their lineup. Rohit Sharma returns to the side after missing the first Test, with Shubman Gill also making a comeback following a thumb injury. Ravichandran Ashwin joins the XI as well, adding strength to the bowling attack with his impressive pink-ball record of 18 wickets in four matches at an average of 13.83. Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, and Washington Sundar sit out for this match.

Also See: India Cricket Matches Schedule | Australia Cricket Schedule

Speaking at the toss, Rohit expressed confidence in the pitch and his team’s momentum. “The pitch looks good and dry, with enough grass covering. There will be something for everyone. The mood is vibrant after what the boys did in Perth. It’s a long series, and we’ll try to carry the momentum forward. I am back, Gill is back, and Ashwin is back. I’ll be batting in the middle order,” he said.

Australia, reeling from their Perth loss and the absence of pacer Josh Hazlewood due to a strain, has brought in Scott Boland as his replacement. Skipper Pat Cummins acknowledged the importance of starting afresh with the pink ball. “It’s always good to have a fresh start. The pink ball can behave differently, and it’s pretty muggy today. Scott Boland comes in for Hazlewood,” Cummins said.

India enters the Adelaide Test with both confidence and a point to prove. While their Perth victory showcased dominant performances under Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership, they are also looking to erase the memory of their lowest Test total—36 runs—during the 2020 Adelaide pink-ball Test, where Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood dismantled their batting lineup.

Also See: India vs Australia Series Schedule, Upcoming Matches, Match Dates and Timing

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Nitish Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

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, Scott Boland.