Australia vs India 2018-19: India's predicted XI for the Boxing Day Test

Having won the first Test at the Adelaide Oval, India lost their way in the second Test as they had to face the defeat by a hefty margin of 146 runs. With this win, Australia registered their first win of series as well as their first win at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Interestingly, this win also came as Australia's first win in Tests after the ball-tampering saga which translates to the Paine's first win as an Australian captain as well.

Each Australian member contributed his bit to Australia's historic win at the Optus Stadium. Australia dominated from the word go and got hold of the crunch moments in the game. On the other hand, the Indian team considerably struggled in their batting department as the openers once again failed to provide India with a good start. No-show from Rahul and Vijay put a lot of burden on the Indian middle-order, especially on Virat.

Hence, before the third Test which is set to commence from 26 December, India will have a lot of problems to address in a bid to go 2-1 up in the series. The Indian team is envisioned to make a lot of changes for the Boxing Day Test at MCG.

Thus, let us look at India's predicted XI for the third Test which is slated to take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

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Mayank Agarwal

Will the team management take the risk of promoting Hanuma Vihari up the order alongside Mayank?

The Indian opening department looks far from the best. KL Rahul and Murali Vijay have failed to render the Indian team with a solid start more often than not which has cost the team dearer than does petrol to a common-man today. Besides that, Prithvi Shaw's injury has only deteriorated the situation.

With Shaw already ruled out of the Test series, Mayank Agarwal, the former's replacement, will be a definite addition to India's playing XI for the third Test. The Karnataka batsman is expected to replace his state-mate, KL Rahul, for the third Test.

Rahul looked out of sorts in the second Test as he failed to defend his stumps in both the innings. Barring a gritty 44 in the second innings of the first Test, KL hasn't had much at this tour. Hence, Mayank's way into the playing XI for the third Test.

Mayank has been knocking the Indian doors for quite a time now, and this seems to be a perfect time to hand the right-handed batsman his first Test cap.

Hanuma Vihari

Alongside Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari is said to come in as the second opener for the third Test. It calls for a surprising decision, but the news from the dressing room is Vihari could well get a chance to open in the next Test. Murali Vijay hasn't reaped the results for India and promoting Vihari to open the innings will solve India's lot of problems at one go.

Vihari's way into the opening department will hand the team management a chance to play an extra player in the lower middle-order side by side adding some strength to the opening department. Besides, Hanuma's sacrosanct defensive technique adds some weight to the argument.

Cheteshwar Pujara

The Indian team will bank a lot on Pujara and Kohli

Cheteshwar Pujara, India's chief architect in the first Test win, failed to replicate his Adelaide heroics at the Optus Stadium. He had a pretty decent start to the Test as he scored a gritty knock of 24 in the first innings which proved to be quite significant in the context of the situation. Nonetheless, Pujara missed the bus in the second innings as he fell on a meager score of 4. Thus, come the third Test, the right-handed batsman will hope to repeat his first Test heroics in an attempt to provide stability to the Indian middle-order.

Virat Kohli (C)

Once again, Virat Kohli led from the front as he scored an incredible 123 in the first innings which helped India to post a respectable total in the first innings. It was his 123 that stabilized the Indian innings after a dismal show by the Indian openers. However, Kohli wouldn't be pleased enough as the gritty century came in a losing cause. Nonetheless, Kohli will be keen on continuing his red-hot form in the third Test as well.

Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane looked solid in the second Test

Ajinkya Rahane silenced his critics in the second Test as he notched-up a hard-worked 51 in the first innings followed by a courageous 30 in the second innings. Rahane showed his potential as an overseas specialist while vindicating his selection in the Indian Test team. Rahane will be of the opinion to carry on the same lines in the third Test which would only strengthen the Indian middle-order.

Rishabh Pant (WK)

Although Rishabh Pant was wayward in his approach, the young Indian wicket-keeper batsman made some vital contributions in the second Test. He scored 36 and 30 in the first and the second innings respectively. Both of these knocks proved to be crucial in the context of the game as the former helped India get closer to Australia's first innings total while the latter was in a bid to negate the loss. However, Pant, with his batting, will look to be a tad more reasonable in the third Test.

Hardik Pandya

Pandya will be hoping to make a comeback in the third Test

Hardik Pandya, who had been away from the action for two months, was drafted into the squad for the last two Tests. India unquestionably missed the services of Hardik in the second Test. Had Pandya been there, India would have thought to play a spinner. Nevertheless, India would be including Pandya in the playing XI for the third Test. Hardik's inclusion will provide the team with a vacant place for the spinner. Hence, his place in the playing XI for the third Test.

Ravichandran Ashwin

India, without any doubt, would have been in a better place had Ravichandran Ashwin been a part of the second Test. Ashwin's long spells in the first Test took a toll on him as he injured his abdomen and had to miss the second Test. In the first Test, Ashwin not only performed with the ball but also with the bat as he added some crucial runs to the board. Thus, the team management will be contemplating to play him in the third Test in a gambit to add strength to their batting lineup as well as to include variety in the bowling department.

Ishant Sharma

Ishant, Shami, and Bumrah will form the core of the Indian bowling in the third Test.

Ishant Sharma, barring a few no-balls, has been brilliant in the series so far. The lanky bowler has kept the Australian batsmen on their toes and has made them earn each run. With decent pace and bounce - thanks to his height - Ishant has succeeded in doing his bit while assisting the other bowlers as well. Thus, the Delhi paceman will look to continue the same form in the third Test as well.

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami toiled hard in the first innings of the second Test but failed to attract any customers as he went wicket-less despite bowling some stringent lines. Nonetheless, Shami covered that up in the second innings as he scalped six wickets while creating havoc among the Australian batsmen. The hit-the-deck bowler will be hoping to replicate the same in the Melbourne Test while helping India to go 2-1 up in the series.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the best bowlers, if not the best, in the series so far. He has kept it tight for the Australian batsmen while bowling some uncomfortable lines. In the second Test, Bumrah put the batsmen in enigma more often than not. Bumrah scalped two and three wickets in the first and the second innings respectively. The Gujarati bowler will be looking forward to maintaining the excellent form with an attempt to put India in a commanding position in the third Test.