As the countdown to the much-awaited Box Day Test draws to a close, India are all in readiness to make some surprising changes to their lineup in a bid to outclass Australia in the ongoing edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy Test series. As per reports, it has been widely speculated that the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma may return to the top to open the batting with the swashbuckling batter Yashasvi Jaiswal in Melbourne. This claim has been placed by a journalist from the Times of India.

Such a reshuffling at the top of the order would see the in-form Kl Rahul go down and drop all the way to number three as claimed by Rohit Juglan, a RevSportz journalist on Twitter.

 

Breaking - Rohit Sharma to open - KL to play at 3 in MCG

— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) December 25, 2024

 

See also: Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024: AUS vs IND 4th Test, Match Prediction- Who Will Win Today?

Washington Sundar likely to team up with Jadeja as the second spinner at the MCG

Following the alteration of the Indian top order, the management is also mulling to bolster their spin department which has had very little role to play thus far in the series. As far as their expectations are concerned, the Indian team is of the opinion that the track in the MCG will suit the spinners during the latter stages of the Test match. 

Unsurprisingly, Ravindra Jadeja has emerged as the hot pick for the MCG showdown given his vast experience in the longest format, both with the bat and the ball. Furthermore, it is also believed that the management is leaning more towards securing the services of off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar and expects him to play a decisive role in the do-or-die fourth Test. If that were to happen, Nitish Kumar Reddy would have to drop out and make way for the spin-bowling all-rounder.

 

Rohit Sharma very likely to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul at No.3. Team considering two spinners - Washington Sundar could play in place of Nitish Reddy. But Rohit very likely to open tomorrow at MCG @toisports

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) December 25, 2024

 

Was it right to sideline Nitish?  

A handful of experts suggest that the young seam-bowling all-rounder may have been hard done-by the management. Reddy presently ranks as the fourth-highest run scorer in the ongoing BGT 2024-25, having accumulated 179 runs across five innings, with an average exceeding 44 and a strike rate of 72. Additionally, he has proven to be a valuable pace bowler for the Indian cricket team, claiming three wickets in 27 overs during the current tour of Australia.

However, the management's desire to push for more experience seems very justified at this stage. Sundar was previously a part of the Indian squad in the earlier BGT edition in 2020-21 where he performed splendidly well, both with the bat and the ball, and bailed India out of danger on a number of occasions.