India have dropped both its opening batsmen—Murali Vijay and K.L. Rahul—from the side that will play against Australia in the third Test match at Melbourne, beginning on Wednesday. The four Test series is currently level at 1-1, after India won the first Test at Adelaide and Australia crushed the visitors at Perth.
Rahul and Vijay have struggled throughout the series, having had put together partnerships of three runs, 63, six and nought in the first two Tests.
The starting line-up for the third Test at Melbourne does not include star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has not recovered from an abdominal injury. Ashwin, who was instrumental in India's win in the Adelaide Test with his six wickets, had also missed the Perth Test.
Umesh Yadav has also been dropped from the side for the Melbourne Test. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and batsman Rohit Sharma return to the side for the Melbourne Test, while opener Mayank Agarwal will make his debut in the match.
The playing 11 for the Melbourne Test are Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.
