India are 2-0 up in the four-match series, having registered victories in the Nagpur and Delhi Tests.
The BCCI has left it to India skipper Rohit Sharma to decide the vice-captain for two remaining matches, scheduled to be played in Indore and Ahmedabad from March 1 and March 9, respectively. This means KL Rahul is no longer Rohit’s deputy.
When the squad was announced for the first two Tests in December last year, Rahul was named the vice-captain. However, the selectors have now decided to unburden the out-of-form opening batter.
Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat, who was released ahead of the second Test to play in the Ranji Trophy final, has been brought back into the squad.
Under Unadkat’s leadership, Saurashtra put up a comprehensive performance and went on to beat Bengal by nine wickets. Unadkat was declared the ‘Player of the Match’ for his 9/129 in the game.
TEAM SAURASHTRA! It isn’t just a team, it is an emotion! It is love! It is fire & ice & everything nice..
This is special guys! To many more trophies & memories..
pic.twitter.com/oUKAZTvByb
— Jaydev Unadkat (@JUnadkat) February 19, 2023
Meanwhile, the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) final is now down to three sides, with South Africa being ruled out following India’s comprehensive win in Delhi.
The highest win percentage South Africa can claim is 55, which will still be less than the lowest amount that India can finish on.
India’s Test squad for the third and fourth Test against Australia:
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
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