AUS vs IND | Sachin backs stand-in captain Rahane to deliver in Kohli's absence
Cricket | December 24, 2020 21:09 ISTRahane will lead Team India in the last three Tests as Kohli has left for home on paternity leave.
Rahane will lead Team India in the last three Tests as Kohli has left for home on paternity leave.
India trail 0-1 in the four-match series after losing the day-night opening Test by eight wickets in Adelaide. The second Test starts on December 26 in Melbourne.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was the first to arrive at the nets for the training session and he was put through a fitness test as he ran between the wickets with a bat on his hand
In the last 96 Tests, going back to March 30 of 2018, pacers have combined to average 26.40, the best figure ever managed for a period of 100 Tests since 1908.
The fate of the third Test has been shrouded in uncertainty since earlier this month after a fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the northern beaches in Sydney, which is scheduled to host the third Test from January 7.
The former Indian batsman stressed that last week's freak occurrence doesn't define Indian players who have experience of performing around the world.
The 2011 World Cup winner bats for KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill's inclusion in the playing XI.
The legendary wrist-spinner feels Shami's absence on drop-in pitches will hurt India while Australians have the best bowling unit for the Melbourne wicket.
India have won just one Boxing Day Test in the last 35 years; latest coming at the 2018 Australia Tour.
The board contingency plan is to work with Victorian government to host the Australia vs India third Test in Melbourne if Sydney is rendered untenable to host the game over COVID-19 surge in the region.
The head coach acknowledged the strength Australian bowling unit but said they are doing some work on their batting and fielding.
The legend feels that happens to batsmen when they have too many things going on in their heads or if they are expecting a short delivery.
The former Indian opener feels that Team India would reflect on their mistake and come back stronger against Australia, who don't have a strong batting line-up without David Warner.
Smith hasn't met with his wife Dani Willis in four months due to being part of biosecurity bubbles in various tournaments and will have to wait longer due to COVID-19.
The Australian head coach says he would have to be very courageous to change a team that won so convincingly in Adelaide.
Hogg opined that the youngster's technique is better suited for the number four or five spot.
India were bundled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36 in their second innings at Adelaide Oval as Australia claimed an eight-wicket win in the first pink-ball Test to take a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Kohli left home to be with his wife and Bollywood actor, Anushka Sharma, for the birth of their first child.
Cricket Australia (CA) was put on high alert earlier this month after an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in the northern beaches in Sydney, which is scheduled to host the third Test from January 7.
More than the leadership responsibility, Rahane will also be replacing Kohli the batsman, and latter responsibility has been a major issue with him over the last few years.
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