India vs Australia | R Ashwin remains a doubt for Boxing Day Test, confirms Ravi Shastri

Team India will be gunning for a win as they step up preparation for the third Test match against Australia which will be played on Boxing Day at the MCG, especially, after they suffered a humiliating 146-run loss at the hands of the hosts last Monday. However, the visitors were heavily criticised for their decision to field a four-man pace attack instead of going with a specialist spinner at the track in Perth which ultimately led to a loss and helped Australia level the series 1-1.

Veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, who was involved in the series opener in Adelaide was ruled out of the second game after having suffered an abdominal strain in the build-up to the game. Indian coach, Ravi Shastri, has revealed that Ashwin is still a doubt for the upcoming Boxing Day game and will be monitored in the coming 48 hours before the management can make a final call on his inclusion.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja would have been the most obvious replacement in Ashwin’s place but even he is not sure to be involved at the batsman-friendly MCG pitch. Shastri revealed Jadeja had needed an injection in his shoulder immediately after he arrived in Australia and the team management had opted against playing him in the Perth Test match.

"When you look at Perth, we felt (Jadeja) was about 70-80 per cent fit and we didn't want to risk that in Perth. If he was 80 per cent fit here, he (would) play. He had taken an injection even in India but he played domestic cricket after that.

"He still felt stiff in the shoulder when he came here and he was injected again, and it takes time to settle. It took longer than we expected, hence we had to be careful. The last thing we wanted was someone breaking down after five or 10 overs and then we are stuck for players to pick for Melbourne or Sydney. We'll have to evaluate (his) fitness over a 24-hour period and take it one step from there, and also (evaluate) the conditions," Shastri told reporters.