India predicted XI for 3rd Test: After a long gap of 10 days, which is unusual in modern-day cricket where a T20I series could be sandwiched in such a gap, India and England will resume their series in the 3rd Test in Rajkot. With the series locked at 1-1, after two amazing Test matches in Hyderabad and Vizag, the third Test will get underway on February 15, Thursday, at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
India have been given a jolt as KL Rahul has been ruled out of the third Test, failing to recover from the quad injury that kept him out of action in Vizag. Rahul being ruled out, Shreyas Iyer being dropped, and Virat Kohli’s being unavailable are likely to pave the way for the debut of Sarfaraz Khan.
India predicted XI for 3rd Test: Sarfaraz likely to make his debut in Rajkot
The 26-year-old batsman from Mumbai who averages 69 in first-class cricket, Sarfaraz Khan, is very likely to get his maiden Test cap in Rajkot. Devdutt Padikkal is added to the squad as a replacement for Rahul, but the left-hander from Karnataka is unlikely to get the nod over Sarfaraz.
The hosts are set to receive a boost as Ravindra Jadeja, who also missed the Vizag Test due to a hamstring strain, is all but certain to feature in his home city, Rajkot.
Another potential debutant could be Dhruv Jurel. With KS Bharat not doing much with the bat, India may decide to play young Jurel, who averages 46 after 15 first-class matches. This means that India could have a very inexperienced middle-order of Patidar, who debuted in Vizag, Sarfaraz, and Jurel, though Jadeja could be promoted to break the chain of right-handers.
Mohammed Siraj, who was rested from the second Test, is back in the squad and should slot in straightaway for Mukesh Kumar.
India’s conundrum will be regarding how many spinners to play with Jadeja now fit. Who does Jadeja replace—Kuldeep or Axar? Kuldeep is the X-factor against whom England batters refrained from playing sweeps, while Axar provides batting depth.
India predicted XI for 3rd Test:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Rajat Patidar
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Axar Patel/Siraj
- R Ashwin
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav/Siraj
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