India's predicted playing XI for the 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test vs Australia | December 6, 2024

India and Australia are all set to lock horns in the second Test of the five-match series. The two teams will battle it out in a day-night encounter at the Adelaide Oval from Friday, December 6.

The visitors have been boosted by the returns of captain Rohit Sharma and key batter Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test. India clinched the series opener by a convincing margin to blow the rubber wide open and will be keen on maximizing their advantage while the hosts' chips are down.

Interestingly, there are quite a few selection dilemmas on India's hands. Which approach could they take in Adelaide?

India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal.

On that note, here is India's predicted playing XI for the second Test against Australia.

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Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul

India v New Zealand - 1st Test - Source: Getty

Captain Rohit has announced that Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will continue to open the batting for India after impressing in the first Test. While Jaiswal got stuck in and notched up a special hundred in the second innings, Rahul was assured in defence in both essays and played out the new ball with a fair degree of ease.

It's hard to argue against the decision, although it's worth asking whether Rohit is a better option than Shubman Gill to bat at No. 3. Speaking of...

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Middle Order: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy

India v New Zealand - 1st Test - Source: Getty

Gill has made the No. 3 spot his own with a series of important knocks, but it would be natural to assume that Rohit fits in better at the position. The Indian skipper has stated that he will bat "somewhere in the middle order," hinting at perhaps replacing Dhruv Jurel at No. 5.

Picking the rest of India's middle order is a straightforward task. Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy will need to be at the top of their game against the pink ball. The trio are likely to keep Ravindra Jadeja out of the side once again.

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Lower Order: Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

India v New Zealand - 1st Test - Source: Getty

There has been some talk about Ravichandran Ashwin playing ahead of Washington Sundar due to his good record at Adelaide, but India might not value that enough to warrant making such a decision. Sundar's batting and overspin-heavy bowling could give him an edge.

The visitors are expected to stick to the same pace attack that won them the first Test, although Akash Deep could be a deadly weapon with the pink ball. Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah will be tough to contend with as well, and India might not find it necessary to swap out Rana for Deep.