BGT 2024-25: 2 changes which are expected in India playing 11 for Adelaide test

The India playing 11 in Adelaide will see at least two changes from the Perth test.

The Indian cricket team registered one of their most famous overseas wins of the 21st century in Perth last month by defeating Australia at their fortress Optus Stadium, where the hosts had won all their four tests, by a huge margin of 295 runs.

Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah starred for India with the ball, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli registered centuries to signal warning bells for the hosts for the rest of the series.

The action now moves to Adelaide, where the second test is slated to get underway on December 6. The second IND vs AUS test of the BGT 2024-25 will be a day-night test match, to be played with the pink ball.

India have horrific memories from their last day-night encounter in Adelaide, when they were bowled out for only 36 runs. There are a few players from that side from four years ago who will feature in the upcoming test and they would look to extract revenge.

The visitors are set to be boosted in Adelaide by the return of two first-choice players in the India playing XI. India recently played a warm-up match against Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, which they won by six wickets.

The fact that India won in Perth despite missing two key batsmen makes their victory even more astonishing.

BGT 2024-25: 2 changes which are expected in India playing 11 for Adelaide test

1. Rohit Sharma In, Dhruv Jurel Out

Rohit Sharma missed the first BGT 2024-25 test in Perth due to the birth of his child. He joined the team while the Perth test was ongoing.

He featured in the warm-up match against Prime Minister’s XI. Interestingly, KL Rahul opened the innings in the warm-up match with Jaiswal and Rohit batted at No. 4. Sharma had a poor outing: he played and missed a couple of times before getting out for three runs off 11 balls.

He was in a terrible form during the home season: in 10 innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand, Rohit averaged only 13.3, and notched up only one fifty.

Rahul showed exemplary patience and technique to deal with the new ball in Perth in both of his innings, while Rohit has been struggling to get going early on in recent tests. Sharma might slot in the middle-order in Adelaide.

He is expected to take Dhruv Jurel’s place in the middle-order. Jurel managed scores of 11 and 1 in Perth.

2. Shubman Gill In, Devdutt Padikkal Out

Another change which is all but certain is Shubman Gill replacing Devdutt Padikkal. Gill missed the Perth test due to a thumb injury.

But he has recovered: he played in the warm-up match against PM’s XI and hit a terrific half-century, scoring 50 runs off 62 balls before retiring to give others a chance to bat under lights.

Padikkal was gone for a duck in his first innings in Perth but did well to score 25 runs in his second outing. Yet, he is expected to be dropped as Gill is set for a comeback.

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