India vs Australia | Predicted XI for the fourth and final Test in Sydney

Openers

KL Rahul: Such is life! The day Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal played out 19 overs between them for the opening partnership to make the "new ball old", Rahul must have started packing his stuff for the trip back home. However, Rohit Sharma’s absence and Ravichandran Ashwin’s continual injury meant he is back in the scheme of things, literally within the space of a week. It is for him to swim or sink from now on.

Mayank Agarwal: When Agarwal was picked in the team, it was already late for him. In the year gone by, the Karnataka opener made run-scoring ridiculously easy and put himself as the ideal candidate for the opening slot. Now, that he has got his due, he wouldn’t want to let it go like that. Batting in Sydney is easier as compared to other venues in Australia and he will try to make his chance count.

Middle-order

Cheteshwar Pujara: The India No.3 was never equipped to tackle short balls and his technique was based on bottom-handed shots. However, 2018 saw a renaissance of his technique as he fended them quite beautifully and his 106 in the first innings in Melbourne was as good as it could get. Sydney is more suited to his style of play as well. 

Virat Kohli: Apart from Adelaide, other two Tests have seen at least one Virat Kohli special and he will be eager to step onto SCG and start the New Year with a bang. It was also the same venue where he became India’s full-time Test captain after MS Dhoni retired following the Boxing Day Test in 2014. A lot of memories will come rushing in for him when he will go for the toss with Tim Paine and who knows, he might pull off another century to make it memorable.

Ajinkya Rahane: He seems to be slowly coming back into the groove after a disastrous 2018. He had shown signs of it in the first two Tests, but yet to convert them to big ones. However, he was always assured in his temperament and that is the key to score big in Australia. Given Rohit Sharma is not playing the Test, Rahane will be all the more important as far as the stability in the middle-order goes.

Hanuma Vihari: The Andhra all-rounder is the most certain to get his place back in the middle-order and will also operate as a second spinner alongside Ravindra Jadeja while making way for KL Rahul at the top. In England, Vihari showed that he can play out the second new ball and also made sure that he has a very good feet movement to counter spinners.

Rishabh Pant: What is with the 30s that Rishabh Pant is so fond of? His last four scores read 33, 39, 30, and 36. He always looked good before playing that one rash shot which is strongly advised not to play especially in the big ground of Australia. If he can control the urge to play shots like that, well, who knows, he can get a big one here as well.

All-rounder

Ravindra Jadeja: When the opportunity comes along, the Saurashtra all-rounder never shied away from giving his all. From scoring that fighting half-century in Southampton to bowling his heart out in this Test, Jadeja has been a wonderful commodity for India. Given the fact both the teams are fielding more right-arm pace bowlers, a left-hand batsman should have more rough to contend with and Jadeja can take charge of both type of batsmen with the use of his natural angle and the usage of roughs.

Pacers

Mohammed Shami: The absence of Ishant Sharma due to a left rib cage discomfort meant Shami needs to take more responsibility in the last Test of the series. He has an excellent partner in the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav may also come in to help. However, the way Umesh released the pressure in the Perth Test, it would be wise of Shami to be at the top of his game.

Jasprit Bumrah: The best bowler in the world at the moment. Hands Down. His intelligent use of his hard-arm action and the serious pace made him an interesting entity for India in the long-run. The SCG will be another opportunity for him to start the new year with a bang.

Umesh Yadav: Umesh Yadav, who was selected in the 13-man team ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, had a match figure of 2 for 139 from 37 overs in Perth and proved that he is not at all equipped with the conditions where he doesn't have reverse-swing to work with. His economy rate of 3.75 meant India had to rely more on their part-time spinners and the other three quicks had to keep coming back for spells. He will have to pull up his socks in order to keep the visitors in good stead.

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