The Indian team will be having a new member in their fast bowling attack, as Navdeep Saini will be making his Test debut when Australia and India clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), in the New Year’s Test starting January 7.

There was a race between Saini and Shardul Thakur as the team management was looking for options to replace Umesh Yadav, who has been ruled out of the Test series due to a calf injury, sustained during the MCG Test, which India won by 8 wickets and leveled the series 1-1.

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The 28-year-old Saini was named in the Indian playing XI for the SCG Test announced on Wednesday morning and was seen working hard in nets in Sydney. BCCI's official Twitter handle posted a video of the fast bowler in nets with a caption reading, “Fast & furious! @navdeepsaini96 is all set for his Test debut at the @scg tomorrow. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND.”

Joining Saini in the SCG Test will be Rohit Sharma, who replaces Mayank Agarwal in the opening slot. Agarwal had a dismal run in the ongoing series and didn’t manage to impress in the last 7 of his Test innings, leading to him being dropped. Agarwal returned scores of 17, 9, 0 and 5 in the opening two Tests. 

Team India XI for the third Test:

Rohit Sharma (VC), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini.