NEW DELHI: India skipper Rohit Sharma made three changes to the playing XI after winning the toss in the second Test against Australia, a pink-ball encounter in Adelaide.
Leading the five-match series 1-0, India brought back Rohit, Shubman Gill, and Ravichandran Ashwin, replacing Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, and Washington Sundar.
Sundar’s inclusion as the sole spinner in the first Test had raised expectations of him playing a significant role throughout the series.
However, Ashwin’s return to the XI has surprised many, though there are compelling reasons to justify his selection for pink-ball Tests.
India vs Australia: How pink ball is different
India’s premier spinner Ashwin is the leading wicket-taker for the team in pink-ball Tests, with 18 wickets in five matches.
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His last pink-ball appearance in Adelaide in 2020 saw him claim five wickets in the match.
Ashwin also addresses India’s need for a reliable batter at No. 6. He has batted in that position in 13 matches, scoring 531 runs at an average of 35.40, with two centuries and two half-centuries to his name.
Ashwin’s dual expertise with bat and ball made him an ideal choice, and Rohit’s decision to include him in place of Sundar appears to be a calculated and brilliant move for the day-night Test.
Sundar was India’s highest wicket-taker in the recent three-match Test series against New Zealand with 16 wickets in two Tests.
