IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test: The fourth Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting December 26. Reports suggest Indian captain Rohit Sharma may return to his old role as an opener. So far in this series, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have shared the opening duties in the three matches. So will KL Rahul be dropped from the playing XI due to the Indian captain coming to the opening? Let’s find out
Rohit Sharma’s Potential Shift to Opener
According to a report by The Times of India, Rohit Sharma might open the innings in the Boxing Day Test. This could see KL Rahul batting at number three. Despite being India’s highest scorer in the series with 235 runs at an average of 47.00, KL Rahul might need to adjust his position for the captain’s return to the top.
In Rohit’s absence during the first Test in Perth, KL Rahul opened the innings. He continued to open in the next two Tests even after Rohit’s return. However, an official announcement regarding Rohit’s position in the Boxing Day Test is yet to be made.
Australia’s Game Plan Revealed for the Boxing Day Test
After setting a big total at Gabba, Australia was held to a draw in the previous Test. Now, the team has made a key change ahead of the Boxing Day Test. Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old opener, has been included in the playing XI, replacing Nathan McSweeney, who couldn’t make a significant impact in his earlier matches. Scott Boland has also returned to the squad, replacing Josh Hazlewood.
Sam Konstas’ Recent Form
Konstas recently impressed by scoring a century in a warm-up match for Australia against India. He scored 107 runs from 97 balls, hitting 14 fours and a six. Only two other batsmen managed to reach double figures in that match.
Konstas’ rapid rise continued when he made a memorable debut in the Big Bash League (BBL) on December 17, where he scored a half-century in just 20 balls against Adelaide Strikers. This made him the youngest player to score a half-century in BBL history and also the fastest for Sydney Thunder.
Now coming back to the previous topic, Rohit Sharma’s performance in Tests this year has been below par. In 13 matches, he has scored only 607 runs at an average of 26.39. Will Rohit’s return to the opening spot prove effective, or will KL Rahul continue to dominate the batting charts? The Boxing Day Test will provide the answer.