India set to ring changes

India are expected to swing the axe after being annihilated in Adelaide, with the tourists tipped to make four changes and blood two debutants as they seek to level the four-test series in Melbourne.

India’s chaotic collapse at Adelaide Oval, where a second-innings total of 36 represented an all-time low for the proud cricket nation, is likely to result in an overhaul of their XI.

Captain Virat Kohli will miss the rest of the series because of the birth of his first child.

India is expected to confirm Mohammed Shami has a broken wrist and the paceman, who was a crucial part of India’s droughtbreaking test triumph in Australia two years ago, will be another enforced omission.

Veteran wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who was a contentious inclusion ahead of Rishabh Pant for the first test, and out-of-form opener Prithvi Shaw are also facing the axe.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) is reporting that Saha and Shaw will be dumped for the Boxing Day test.

Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini, both yet to start their test careers, are vying to replace Shami.

Shubman Gill, the 21-yearold prodigy who averages almost 70 at first-class level and impressed Kolkata teammate Pat Cummins during the recent IPL, is expected to make his test debut at the MCG.

Gill is a top-order batsman but may be deployed at No 6 in a rejigged order, meaning KL Rahul could be recalled to open alongside Mayank Agarwal.

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar, whose name adorns the trophy that Australia and India are competing for, backed the logic of unleashing a revamped top six featuring Rahul and Gill.

‘‘There are going to be two changes in the batting for sure,’’ Gavaskar said.

‘‘KL Rahul will probably come in for Prithvi Shaw to open the batting.

‘‘At No 5 or No 6 Shubman Gill should come in, his form has been good.’’