Rohit Sharma replaces Mayank Agarwal for Sydney Test, Navdeep Saini set for debut

Senior batsman Rohit Sharma will play the third Test against Australia in Sydney, where paceman Navdeep Saini will make his red-ball debut, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed as they announced Team India’s playing XI on Wednesday. 

Sharma, who has been brought in to replace out of form Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal, will deputise skipper Ajinkya Rahane as India look to edge ahead in the four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy.

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“We are all really excited to have him (Sharma) back in the team, especially with his experience at the highest level, which matters a lot,” PTI quoted Rahane saying. 

“He’s been batting really well in the nets.”

The series is tied at 1-1 after India recorded an eight-wicket win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to redeem their debacle in the first Test in Adelaide, where their were bowled out for their lowest-ever score of 36 in the second innings as the hosts won by eight wickets.  

The only other change to the winning combination from the second Test, Navdeep Saini in for Umesh Yadav, was enforced after the latter suffered a calf muscle injury during the third day of the Boxing Day Test. 

Saini, who has represented India in seven One Day Internationals and nine Twenty-20 Internationals, will make his debut in the longest format. 

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India have also decided to stick with the spinning all-rounder duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, who took a combined eight wickets at the MCG. 

The third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starts at 10:30 am local time (5:00 am IST) on Thursday, January 7.

India’s playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini.