Is Ravichandran Ashwin playing today's 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test?
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been named in India's playing XI for the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The day-night Test gets underway today (December 6) at the Adelaide Oval.
Ashwin was left out of the playing XI for the first Test in Perth. Young all-rounder Washington Sundar played as the lone spinner, as the visitors looked to strengthen their batting. He had a decent outing, picking up two wickets and scoring 33 runs across two innings.
However, Ashwin has been called back into the playing XI for the pink-ball Test. He will replace Sundar in the side. Ashwin enjoys an excellent record Down Under, having picked up 39 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 42.15, with best figures of 4/55 in an innings.
Team India have made two other regulation changes to the playing XI for the second Test. Skipper Rohit Sharma has returned to lead the side after missing the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his second child. Shubman Gill has also been drafted into the team after missing the Perth Test due to a finger injury he sustained ahead of the start of the first Test.
India's Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Nitish Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
India won the toss and chose to bat first in 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma has won the toss and has elected to bat first in the pink-ball Test. However, the visiting side have been hurt early, with left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc striking on the very first ball.
It was a full delivery on the leg side and Yashasvi Jaiswal missed it completely. The ball struck on pads and the umpire didn't hesitate to raise his finger.
The dismissal saw Shubman Gill walk out to the middle. At the time of the writing, India are 1/8 after two overs.