Is Shubman Gill playing BGT 2024-25 4th Test?

Team India's top-order batter Shubman Gill won't feature in the side's ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. The Boxing Day Test kicked off on Thursday, December 26, in Melbourne.

Gill didn't find a place in India's playing XI for the contest. The talented batter made way for spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar. Australia won the toss and chose to bat first.

Speaking at the toss, India captain Rohit Sharma said:

"This is all about fighting in the situation. We did that back in Brisbane. We are put in a new scenario where we must do it all over again. Gill misses out, Washington Sundar comes in and I go back to the top of the order."

Shubman Gill has struggled for form in the ongoing BGT 2024-25 series. The 25-year-old has scored just 60 runs across three innings at an average of 20. It is worth mentioning that he also missed the Test series opener in Perth due to a finger injury.

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KL Rahul likely to bat at No. 3 in Shubman Gill's absence in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Shubman Gill batted at No. 3 in India's batting order for the previous two Tests of the Australia tour. In his absence, senior batter KL Rahul is expected to play in the crucial spot.

Rahul opened the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first three Tests of BGT 2024-25. However, skipper Rohit Sharma, who gave up his opening spot for Rahul, confirmed at the toss that he will return to the top of the order for the Melbourne Test.

Here are the two playing XIs for BGT 2024-25 4th Test:

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep