India vs Australia 2017: India's predicted playing XI for the third Test

Pacer

Umesh Yadav was India’s best fast bowler in the 2016-17 season

As mentioned in the previous slide, there are high chances of India going in with three spinners and one pacer as the wicket will offer the tweakers more than the fast bowlers. The last time India went in with just one pacer was way back in the 2012 Nagpur Test (India went in with four spinners and one seamer).

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who didn’t play in the first two matches, is set to miss the Ranchi Test and it will be a direct toss-up between Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav for the fast bowler’s slot. Ishant has been India’s spearhead in Tests and has troubled the Aussie batsmen in the first two matches.

On the other hand, Umesh has been Kohli’s go-to pacer since the start of the home season and the Vidarbha pacer too is repaying the faith his skipper has in him.

Umesh’s phenomenal run in the home season should put him as the favourite to get into the XI as the sole fast bowler ahead of Ishant.