In the BGT 2024-25 series, India should consider making two key changes to their playing XI for the 3rd Test at Gabba. Firstly, a change in the batting order to strengthen the middle order. Secondly, introducing a fresh bowler to add variety and increase pressure on Australia’s batting. These adjustments could help India improve their performance in challenging conditions.
Australia levelled the BGT 2024-25 with a 10-wicket win in Adelaide.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 became even more thrilling as Australia leveled the series in Adelaide. After a heavy 295-run defeat in Perth, the hosts bounced back to win the day-night Test by 10 wickets.
Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, and Pat Cummins were pivotal in Australia’s dominant win, while Nathan McSweeney and Scott Boland also made notable contributions.
India, despite the return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, struggled with dismal batting performances, getting bowled out for 180 and 175 runs.
The Indian captain appeared clueless, and the bowlers failed to contain a dominant Travis Head on day 2. Meanwhile, the batsmen, except for Nitish Kumar Reddy, succumbed meekly to Australia’s pace attack.
India will need to make a few changes to their playing XI ahead of the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, where they previously secured one of their most memorable wins.
BGT 2024-25: 2 Changes India Should Consider for Their Playing XI in the 3rd Test at Gabba
Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna have been included, while Harshit Rana has been excluded.
One decision that India should make without giving it a second thought is to drop Harshit Rana. Yes, Rana had an impressive debut in Perth, which included a terrific ball to castle Travis Head, but he was out of his depths in Adelaide when Head started counter-attacking. He leaked 86 runs in 16 overs without any wicket.
It’s not Rana’s fault either: he came into the BGT 2024-25 with an experience of only 10 First-Class matches and without any significant experience of the red-ball game, let alone A tours, which was a key in the development of bowlers like Mohammed Siraj.
India have two options in their squad to replace Harshit: Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna.
Akash has featured in 36 First-Class matches, out of which five are test matches. In his five-test career, all games at home, Deep impressed with his ability to nip out left-handers from around the wicket, something India might want to use against the likes of Head and Khawaja in Brisbane.
The case for Prasidh’s inclusion is his extra height, which earned him two test matches in South Africa earlier. With his height, Prasidh can generate extra bounce on an already bouncy Gabba surface and target Head’s weakness against the short ball.
Washington Sundar IN, R Ashwin OUT
A potential change in the playing XI could see Washington Sundar replace R. Ashwin. Sundar, who played in Perth, contributed with 29 runs in India’s second innings and claimed two tailenders in Australia’s second innings. He also made a crucial 42* in the warm-up match but was replaced by Ashwin when India’s batting was “strengthened” with the return of Rohit and Gill, although that hasn’t proved effective.
In Adelaide, Ashwin scored 29 runs across two innings and bowled well, conceding 53 runs in 18 overs, including the wicket of Mitchell Marsh.
What could tip the balance in Sundar’s favor is their respective records at the Gabba. Sundar was pivotal in India’s historic win at the Gabba in 2021, taking four wickets and scoring a vital 62 runs. In contrast, Ashwin played in the 2014/15 series at the Gabba, where he scored 54 runs but was ineffective with the ball, recording figures of 2/128.
Sundar is currently in better form than Ashwin. With the Gabba expected to offer a pace-friendly pitch, India should consider Sundar for his added batting strength and his ability to control the game with the ball.