Ravichandran Ashwin replaces Washington as India opt to bat in Adelaide

Ravichandran Ashwin will be playing his first SENA Test in a year as the veteran returns to team India’s starting XI for the Adelaide Test, replacing Washington Sundar. Ashwin last played a SENA Test in Centurion in 2023 against South Africa, where he returned figures of 1/41. India lost that clash by an innings and 32 runs. 

Ashwin returning to the Indian side is not a big surprise, however, considering his impeccable record at the Adelaide Oval, where he has taken 16 wickets. Ashwin averages 20.00 with the ball at the venue since 2018 and took five wickets in the pink ball encounter in 2020, where he ran through Australia in the first innings, taking 4/55.

Ashwin’s return is one of three changes for the visitors, with the other two being the return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. The pair will be replacing youngsters Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal. While KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will continue to open for India, with Gill slotting in at No.3, Rohit will be batting in the middle order, either at No.5 or No.6.

Australia, meanwhile, will be bowling first for the second game running in this series. They have one change: Scott Boland replaces injured Josh Hazlewood.

Australia, notably, are unbeaten in D/N Tests at the Adelaide Oval, having won all seven games they have played at the venue.

What the captains said

Rohit Sharma: We are going to bat first. Looks like a good pitch, looks a bit dry at the moment, there's enough grass covering as well. It'll have some carry for the fast bowlers. As the game goes on, it'll get better to bat on. There will be something in it for everyone.

Pat Cummins: We would have batted first as well, but the pink ball might nip around early. It's always good to have a fresh start. It's been really good preparation.

Playing XIs

There's one change for Australia, with Boland replacing Hazlewood

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Three changes for India, as Rohit, Gill and Ashwin replace Jurel, Padikkal and Washington.

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Nitish Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

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