Natarajan, Sundar make Test debuts as injury-hit India eye to end Australia's Gabba streak

'Yorker King' T Natarajan and spinner Washington Sundar were handed ir Test caps as y geared up for ir debut in whites against Australia at Gabba in 4th Test on Friday. Natarajan previously debuted for Men in Blue in limited-overs format of game following which he carried on as a net bowler and was named in India's Test squad as injured Umesh Yadav's replacement. Washington Sudar, on or hand, had also accompanied team as a net bowler and assisted side in preparations for Australian spinners. Playing Border-Gavaskar Trophy decider at Brisbane without ir experienced bowling attack, India are pinning ir hopes on young quicks to shine in ir very first game & cause some turbulence to Aussies. 

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T Natarajan, who was a net bowler for Men in Blue in Down Under, earlier made his debut for India in white-ball format, impressing selectors and fans. Natarajan earned nickname 'Yorker King' after he made batsmen dance on ir toes during recently concluded IPL. BCCI also informed on Friday that 'Hitman' Rohit Sharma had completed his quarantine and had joined Indian team in Melbourne for practice. While T Natarajan was handed his Test cap by bowling coach Bharat Arun, Washinton Sundar was handed his by fellow Tamil Nadu senior R Ashwin amidst a round of applause from ir teammates.

Natarajan, Sundar make Test debuts

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Australia win toss, elect to bat at Gabba

Australia won toss and elected to bat against a depleted Indian side which will be missing both Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin in fourth Test starting on Friday. Pacer Shardul Thakur is playing his second Test match and Mayank Agarwal replaces Hanuma Vihari in middle-order. Australia only has one change in Marcus Harris in place of injured Luke Pucovski. Bumrah being ruled out of fourth Test was first reported by PTI on January 12 amidst reports that he could play even if he is 50 per cent fit. "re was never any chance of Bumrah playing but like any top team, y wouldn't like ir opposition to get a psychological advant,' a senior BCCI source privy to development said.

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Teams

Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matw Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (capt & wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, T Natarajan. 

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