Toss India chose to bat v Australia
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
File photo – Abhinav Mukund was playing his first Test since 2011 © PTI
After totalling a mere 212 runs in Pune, India took up the insurance of an extra batsman with the trophy on the line in Bengaluru. Abhinav Mukund, who last played Test cricket in 2011, has come in as opener for an injured M Vijay and Karun Nair, who made a triple-century in his last innings, has replaced offspinning-allrounder Jayant Yadav. To further put the memories of a 333-run defeat to start the series behind him, Virat Kohli was able to win the toss and choose to bat when conditions are likely to be at their best.
That means Abhinav will be front and centre for the first time in India colours since the tour of England in 2011. The 27-year-old Tamil Nadu opening batsman had once thought about giving up the game altogether. And now he is back playing international cricket, with India needing to not lose to have a shot at regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia are the holders and a 2-2 draw will mean they will go home with the silverware intact. The other comeback man would be no less pleased. Nair had his parents watching him in Chennai when he struck 303 not out against England in December. Now he will take the field as the hometown boy at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Anil Kumble had said all 16 were up for selection for India. Later Kohli amended that with the announcement that Hardik Pandya was the only player injured in the squad. On the morning of the second Test though, it was revealed that Vijay had hurt his left shoulder while fielding at the MCA stadium. He had made 10 and 2, and dropped a couple of key catches as well. For that matter, his replacement Abhinav had troubles in the field too, shelling a couple of chances as a substitute fielder.
Australia have kept faith in the XI that won them the first Test in such emphatic fashion, and had made the decision to so well before the toss. Steven Smith was hoping his fast bowlers could concentrate enough good balls together to ensure his batting line-up wouldn’t be under too much pressure considering the surface is likely to break up and take spin from the third day.
India 1 KL Rahul, 2 Abhinav Mukund, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Karun Nair, 7 Wriddiman Saha (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Ravindra Jadeja, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Steve O’Keefe, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood.
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo