Rohit Replaced, Big Decision On Pant; Pacer Returns After 365 Days! India's Playing XI For SCG Test: Report

India are set to make two changes in the playing XI ap Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS India are set to make two changes in the playing XI

A pacer will miss out due to injury

KL Rahull will return to open the innings

The Indian cricket team is set to make two changes in the playing XI for the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), with the visitors facing a must-win clash in order to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and reach the final of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC).

As per a report by Indian Express, Rohit has decided to opt out of the game. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team for the second time in the series. The 31-year-old also captained the team to their sole victory on the tour, which came in the first Test in Perth by a whopping margin of 295 runs.

Shubman Gill will return to the playing XI in Sydney while KL Rahul will once again open the batting.

Star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant 's place had come under the scanner after his shot selection in the Melbourne Test sparked criticism. Despite speculation of Pant's spot being in danger, the 27-year-old will retain his spot in the playing XI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Pant has a terrific record with the bat at the venue, having made 292 runs in three innings at an average of 146 with a century in 2018 and a knock of 97 in 2021.

The same report claims that Prasidh Krishna will replace Akash Deep in the playing XI. Earlier, Gambhir confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Akash has been ruled out of the series finale due to a back injury.

The SCG Test will mark Prasidh's first outing for India in any format since last year's New Year Test against South Africa at Cape Town, which took place on January 3 and 4. Prasidh made his Test debut in the 2023 Boxing Day Test in Centurion versus the Proteas.

Prasidh failed to impress with the red ball as he took just two wickets in two Test matches before a long spell on the sidelines due to injury.

The 28-year-old missed out on a place in the playing XI in the first four Tests, with Harshit Rana getting the nod in Perth and Adelaide as the third pacer before the youngster was replaced by Akash.

India Playing XI for Sydney Test: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah (C), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

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