IND vs AUS: BCCI announces playing XI for Boxing Day Test
Indian Test cricket team
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
In the list, both openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul have been dropped while rookies Hanuma Vihari and debutant Mayank Agarwal will be given the opportunity to open, according to Reuters.
Murali Vijay and KL Rahul scored just 95 runs between them in eight innings across the opening two Tests in Adelaide and Perth.India's ODI specialist Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have returned from injury.
With the four-Test series tied 1-1, much is riding on the Boxing Day showdown and India can't afford another top-order flop.
Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has failed to recover from an abdominal strain. Australia have made one change to their playing XI - replacing Peter Handscomb with Mitchell Marsh.