If fit, Ravindra Jadeja likely to replace Hanuma Vihari in playing XI for Boxing Day Test

Indian team manment will be keenly monitoring Ravindra Jeja's progress leing up to Boxing Day Test against Australia this weekend as, if fit, all-rounder could walk into playing XI in place of Hanuma Vihari.

Jeja, who suffered a concussion during first T20 international, also sustained a hamstring injury which ruled him out of first Test. However, over past few days when India were playing Test match, Jeja has slowly returned to nets.

It has been learnt that senior all-rounder is recovering well but it can't be said with certainty that he will be 100 per cent fit for second Test in Melbourne starting on December 26.

But if fit, axe will fall on Andhra Presh batsman Vihari, t because of his low scores in elaide Test but purely based on best combination that Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Shastri can put on field.

"If Jeja gets fit to bowl long spells, n re is debate at all. Jeja replaces Vihari on basis of his all-round skills. Also it gives us an option to play five bowlers at MCG," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anymity.

Jeja has 1869 runs in 49 Tests at an aver of 35 plus which includes a hundred and 14 fifties. He has struck half centuries in both England Australia on previous tours.

On or hand, Vihari, in his 10 Tests, has scored 576 runs with a hundred against West Indies and four half-centuries at an aver of 33 plus.

re is a school of thought that if pure batting skills are taken into account, n re is t much of a difference between "specialist Vihari" and "all-rounder Jeja".

With Mohammed Shami alrey ruled out of series because of a wrist fracture, India might just be tempted to go in with five specialist bowlers inste of usual four, which has been ir template for years.

Indian team h a scheduled practice session at elaide Oval on Monday but due to stey rain, it h to be cancelled.

With skipper Virat Kohli set to leave for India on Tuesday and squ travelling to Melbourne, skipper apparently h a chat with his team on way forward after 36 all-out debacle here.

Senior batsman Rohit Sharma can start training from January 3 ahe of Sydney Test. He is currently locked in a hard quarantine in a two-room apartment in Sydney.

Cricket Australia has alrey flown David Warner and Sean Abbott from Sydney to Melbourne due to restrictions imposed by New South Wales state government in wake of ar surge of COVD-19 cases. BCCI, at moment, can't shift Rohit in middle of quarantine.

or aspect is that CA is still confident of hosting third Test in Sydney from January 7 as per schedule and in that case, re is need to shift senior player to Melbourne as in any case he is t playing second game. In case situation changes and third Test match is shifted, BCCI will discuss with CA and take necessary steps. 

(Photo Credit: Twitter/ICC)