🏏India vs Australia, 3rd Test: Venue: Holkar C Stadium, Indore 🏏 - Page 2

Good morning and a warm welcome to all of you for the third Test of the 2022-23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. We're coming to you from Dharamsala the Holkar Stadium in Indore. It's a cool morning and all eyes will, as you'd expect, be on the surface. After two turners, will this be any different? Not a chance. Ahmedabad could be vastly different, though.

India have retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy for a fourth successive time after having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series. They're just too strong in home conditions, even for an Australian team which had done well on their previous two tours to the subcontinent. The goal at the start of the series would have been to reach the World Test Championship final and they are one win away from achieving that. Indore plays host for the third Test and we welcome you to the live coverage

India have been under pressure in the two Tests but have managed to get themselves out thanks to their three spin bowling allrounders. Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar are a boon to have in these conditions. They have performed so well with bat and ball that the lack of runs from the middle order has not hurt India. In the first Test, the last five wickets added over 200 runs and in the second, a 100+ partnership for the eight wicket took them close to Australia's total. But the big question surrounding this game is whether KL Rahul will keep his place. We will know soon..

Thanks for the tag Madhu.

Let's hope this match will be as interesting as the match between NZ and England.😊

Cheers..

Pitch Report: "It is a pleasant morning here in Indore. Historically it is a very good wicket to bat on because it has small boundaries and lightning fast outfield. But this surface could be difference. This wicket looks similar to the ones we saw in the first two Test matches. We are going to see lots of spin. This is a very overcooked wicket, it is dry and has started to crumble. Bat first if you win the toss," reckon Murali Kartik and Matthew Hayden.

Here's more from Kaushik: "So Mohammed Shami has been mostly a silent observer as India begin warm-up, hands inside hoodie pouch stuff. Umesh has bowled a couple deliveries on the side pitch and is being helped out with his warm-ups by the fitness trainer. And similarly, we have Shubman Gill doing his running drills while KL Rahul is having a pitch-side chat with Scott Boland."

Our man at the ground, Kaushik Rangarajan, says "Good morning from Indore. Who else but Steve Smith to begin with throwdown batting," he says. Todd Murphy had a slight issue with his side in Delhi. He's pulled up well and is marking his run-up," he quickly adds.

India have won the toss and have opted to bat

Rohit Sharma: We will have a bat first. It is a pretty good dressing room and like you said the morale is high. The guys are confident about their skills which is a good thing moving forward. We have played a lot of cricket (here) but this one (surface) is slightly different. Looks little dry and you have to adapt your skills and be at it all the time. We aren't there yet (WTC final) and we have to come and win this game, we have to try and repeat the things we did in the first two Tests. It is important to stay present. We have made two changes - Gill comes in place of KL. We have rested Shami and Umesh comes in.

Steve Smith: Looks pretty dry and no surprises Rohit decided to bat first. Hopefully we can execute our skills early and out the Indian batters under pressure. It (break) came in at a good time for us, obviously disappointing how we ended the last Test match and the guys have had time to reflect, rest and get back into preparation. Just stick to our methods for longer periods, we went away from it especially in the second innings in the last game. We are thinking about Patty, his mum's unwell and he has had to go home. We have two changes, Mitch Starc comes in and Cameron Green comes in for Davey (Warner).

Originally posted by: SoniRita

India have won the toss and have opted to bat