The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has heated up as the ongoing five-match series between India and Australia stands tied at 1-1 after two Tests.
The second Test at Adelaide saw Australia dominate with a resounding ten-wicket win, leaving the Indian team eager to bounce back.
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With the third Test scheduled to be played at Brisbane’s iconic Gabba from December 14 to 18, both teams are gearing up to take the lead in this gripping contest. The outcome of this match could shape the rest of the series and WTC standings.
The Sporting News take a look at the playing XIs for both teams ahead of this crucial match.
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Australia's confirmed playing XI in IND vs AUS 3rd Test in Brisbane
Australia’s eleven is to see the return of Josh Hazlewood, who missed the second Test due to a side strain. As confirmed by captain Pat Cummins, the speedster has completely recovered from his side strain.
Unfortunately, Scott Boland, who performed exceptionally in Adelaide, is set to miss out to accommodate the 33-year-old.
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The rest of Australia’s lineup is confirmed to remain the same. Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney will open the innings, followed by Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith as the top 4.
Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh will provide solidity to the middle order, while Alex Carey will continue as the wicket-keeper.
Confirmed Playing XI (Australia):
- Usman Khawaja
- Nathan McSweeney
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steven Smith
- Travis Head
- Mitchell Marsh
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Mitchell Starc
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Hazlewood
The bowling unit, led by captain Cummins, will feature Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and the returning Hazlewood.
India's likely playing XI in IND vs AUS 3rd Test in Brisbane
India’s batting lineup is expected to remain mostly unchanged, however, captain Rohit Sharma might reclaim the opening slot from KL Rahul and start the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shubman Gill is likely to retain his number three spot, while Virat Kohli will solidify the middle order at number four.
Rahul could play at five and Rishabh Pant will serve as the wicket-keeper and bat at number six. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will likely feature at seven.
The bowling lineup might see some adjustments. Ravindra Jadeja could replace R Ashwin, who offers a mix of spin and batting depth.
Harshit Rana, who delivered a strong performance in the opening Test in Perth, struggled to replicate his form in Adelaide. He conceded runs heavily and went wicketless throughout the match, raising the possibility of him being replaced by Akash Deep.
Probable Playing XI (India):
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Akash Deep
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah
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