Karnataka batsman KL Rahul is making his debut for India in the 3rd Test against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, as the visitors are bowling first.
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The Australia vs India 3rd Test, Day 1 is scheduled for a 05:00 am IST (10:00 local) start at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The live score updates will be available HERE, HERE & HERE. Catch the live streaming of Australia vs India, Day 1 HERE & HERE.
Both teams have made two chances in their playing XI, as for India Mohammed Shami and Rahul have made the cut, while for Australia Joe Burns and Ryan Harris are drafted into the squad.
India has dropped struggling Rohit Sharma and pacer Varun Aaron, while seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is nursing an ankle injury, is also not included in the squad. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan, after a wrist injury scare, has been retained.
Australia has given debut to Burn in place of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who is injured, while Mitchell Starc has made way for Harris. The hosts are currently leading the four-match series 2-0, after winning Adelaide and Brisbane Tests.
“We are behind but it slightly becomes easier because you can then only think about process and not the result,” India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. “There will be something for the faster bowlers every morning on this pitch.”
Squads: India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
Australia: Shane Watson, Steve Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
