India's predicted playing XI for the 4th BGT 2024-25 Test vs Australia | December 26, 2024

India and Australia are all set to lock horns in the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26. The series is currently tied at one game apiece, with the Gabba Test ending in a rain-affected draw.

The BCCI recently put out a notice stating that Mohammed Shami will not be available for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Meanwhile, Tanush Kotian has been added to the squad as a replacement for R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket recently.

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), Tanush Kotian, R Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal.

As the visitors attempt to take a series-defining lead, which route will they go down? On that note, here is India's predicted playing XI for the fourth Test against Australia.

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Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul

BOXING DAY TEST: DEC 07 NRMA Insurance Day-Night Test - Source: Getty

Reports from certain quarters suggest that Rohit Sharma is eyeing a return to the top of the order, and there's certainly a big chance that it might happen. The Indian skipper has looked off-color in the series so far, with seam movement troubling him despite not facing the new ball.

However, things won't get any easier for Rohit at the top of the order. Moreover, with KL Rahul doing well, it might not be the best idea for India to change their opening combination.

While there is a chance that Shubman Gill could move down to No. 5, with Rohit joining Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the top three, the Melbourne Test might be too high-stakes an encounter to take such risks.

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Middle Order: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja

BOXING DAY TEST: DEC 07 NRMA Insurance Day-Night Test - Source: Getty

India's middle order could undergo a change or two at the MCG. Gill's overseas form hasn't been too promising, and there's a chance that the visitors will want to play Nitish Kumar Reddy and an additional spinner ahead of the top-order batter. However, weakening the batting won't be a smart move.

Nitish, as good as he has been on the whole, doesn't offer enough as the fourth pacer. So India could pick a second spinner in the form of Washington Sundar, and for now, they could persist with Gill.

Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja will make up the rest of the middle order alongside Rohit. Pant, Kohli and Rohit will be under pressure to deliver in the fourth Test.

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Lower Order: Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

India Test Squad Training Session - Source: Getty

Playing a fourth specialist pacer, either Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana, would greatly weaken India's batting. Sundar could come into the game as the pitch worsens, although a distinctly seamer-friendly surface could prove detrimental to the visitors' fortunes if they play a second spinner.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep are expected to continue in their respective roles. Siraj has seemingly recovered from the niggle that hampered his participation in the Brisbane Test.