Boxing Day Test: India fret over batting line-up as caravan moves to the G

A wagging tail kept India from going behind the hosts Australia in Brisbane. But as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy caravan moves into the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or simply the G, the focus will be on the batting line-up. 

MCG is the visitors'  favourite Australian venue, where they have remained undefeated in Tests since the 2014 series. The last two (2018-19 and 2020-21) of the three Tests (the other being 2014-15) resulted in Indian wins, and solid batting played its part.

But the three swashbuckling youngsters (Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill), one confident, albeit makeshift opener (KL Rahul), and ageing stalwarts (Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma) haven't looked very assured.

They will have to put up their best show to deny the home team a shot at winning the trophy and staking claim to the World Test Championship final. 

His reputation as a Test batter is at stake for under-fire Rohit, while Kohli will need to sort out his problem with a ball delivered on the fifth stump. 

For Rohit, the equation is as simple as it gets. Win the next two Tests and likely head into a potentially memorable swansong at the Lord's in June in the World Test Championships. With selectors allowing R Ashwin to hang up his boots in the middle of a series, indications are clear -- past performances won't guarantee a place in the team.

India's top six must show loads of patience when Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc tease him with that probing line outside the off. Even without an injured Josh Hazlewood, Australia would be a handful with local hero Scott Boland ready to bowl those uncompromising hard lengths.

For the hosts, all eyes will be on teenage sensation Sam Konstas, billed as a player for the future with an attacking game. Another positive for the Aussies: Travis Head, the in-form batter who faced Bumrah with considerable ease, is fully fit and raring to go at Melbourne.

Head had an extended session on Wednesday where he appeared for a fitness test and then looked in good touch at the nets. With scores of 89, 140 and 152, the Indian bowlers need some special plans to counter their main threat.

Temperature is predicted to be close to 40 degrees Celsius, followed by an equally hot second day, which is why the team management is seriously looking into the role of an extra spinner.

But if one looks at teams in recent Tests at MCG, the option for a second specialist spinner has never looked viable.

The pitches at MCG, over the years, don't have too many cracks but could offer variable bounce which Nathan Lyon has used to the fullest in the past.

It will be interesting to see if India go with Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, who incidentally angered a section of the Australian media by not answering in English and spending the allotted nine minutes replying in Hindi.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan told a podcast that the team that dominated the first day, with bat or ball, will win the Test and the series.

Though Australia have an edge, there are no clear favourites for the Test that begins on Thursday.