India vs Australia: Siraj, Gill to debut as BCCI announces playing XI for Boxing Day Test

Team India named two debutants as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia on Friday.

Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj were named in India's playing XI for the second Test that is set to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). While Siraj has represented India four times in the past (1 ODI and 3 T20Is), Gill has played three ODIs, including the third ODI against Australia at the beginning of December.

Gill came in for Prithvi Shaw, who was dropped following a dismal performance in the first Test in Adelaide. Siraj, on the other hand, was a replacement for Mohammed Shami after the senior pacer was ruled out after fracturing his wrist in the day-night game.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returned to the Test team after last playing in the red-ball format in New Zealand earlier this year. Jadeja came in for India captain Virat Kohli, who has returned home on paternity leave. Jadeja, who suffered a concussion during the recently concluded limited-overs leg, reportedly cleared the fitness test on Thursday and is expected to better India's bowling attack at the MCG. From 49 Tests, Jadeja averages over 35 with the bat, while he has 213 wickets to his name.

Rishabh Pant, who had an excellent maiden Down Under tour in 2018-19, replaced Wriddhiman Saha for the upcoming Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Out of Pant's five Test tons, one came in Australia – 159 not out, which remains his highest score in Test cricket. He scored 350 runs in four Tests during the 2018-19 tour at an average of 58.33.

In Kohli's absence, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the Indian team in the remaining matches on the 2020-21 Down Under tour. With scores of 42 and 0, Rahane did not have the best of outings in the day-night Test in Adelaide. But, Rahane is also one of those rare batsmen who averages more in away Tests (44.38) than at home (39.28). On Australian soil, Rahane averages 41.12, having recorded a hundred and four half-centuries. Interesting, his century had come at the MCG in 2014.

India's Playing XI for 2nd Test: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj