While You Were Sleeping: Rohit Sharma opts for bowling, Akash Deep and Ravindra Jadeja replace R Ashwin and Harshit Rana | Cricket News

Throw away update

Captain Rohit Sharma chose to bowl under cloudy skies.

“A little cloudy. A bit of grass and looks soft,” Rohit said while throwing.

“We want to try to make the most of the conditions and see what we can do with the ball up front.

“We will try to do what is expected of us.”

Jadeja comes in for Ashwin

Ravindra Jadeja has replaced R Ashwin. For the third consecutive Test, India have rotated their spinning all-rounder after Washington Sundar’s performance in the series opener in Perth.

Akash Deep replaces Harshit Rana

India named Akash Deep for his first Test outside India, with Harshit Rana ruled out after his wicketless outing in the 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide. Akash Deep has played five Tests so far in his career.

Hazlewood returns

Pat Cummins had confirmed on the eve of the game that Scott Boland was the unfortunate bowler, making way for the returning Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out in Adelaide with a side strain.

Play XIs

Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (week), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India XI: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (Week), Rohit Sharma (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep