India targeting big first innings total in third Test against Australia, says Gill

brisbane: India are determined to post a big first innings total in the third Test against Australia at Brisbane, batsman Shubman Gill said on Friday after they were skittled cheaply in Adelaide.

The visitors were dismissed for just 180 in the second day-night Test after winning the toss and opting to bat, with the hosts then compiling 337.

India made only 175 in their second knock, leaving Australia a meagre 19 to win.

“As a team, as a batting group we are looking to post a big total first up,” said number three Gill. “That’s been one of the key discussions.

“Every batsman will have their own game plan, but as a group collectively we will try to get a big first innings score.”

In the wake of the Adelaide defeat, which left the five-Test series poised at 1-1, skipper Rohit Sharma was critical of the batting, including his own poor form.

“That is the disappointing part, that we didn’t bat well enough,” he said at the time.

“Probably were 30-40 runs short with the bat in the first innings.”

Rohit, who missed the first Test in Perth, came in at number six in Adelaide, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul retained at the top.

There has been talk that he could revert to opener in Brisbane, but he failed to front the traditional pre-match captain’s press conference to discuss the issue.

Asked why Rohit was a no-show, Gill alluded to training on Friday being optional and not compulsory.

“I think he practised enough,” he said.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been carrying a minor groin injury picked up in Adelaide, but trained on Thursday and is expected to be fit.

Whether India keep faith with young seamer Harshit Rana remains to be seen. He failed to get a wicket in the second Test and Akash Deep is a potential replacement.

Despite being thrashed by 10 wickets in Adelaide, Gill remains optimistic about their Brisbane chances.

“We’ve won the last few series (against Australia),” he said. “So there’s no fear. Perhaps if we hadn’t won, maybe.”

The 25-year-old batter also spoke about the fun part of playing a longer Test series and said playing the same bowler again makes the batter aware of the scenarios where he can get out.

Hazlewood returns for third Test: Australia’s Josh Hazlewood was cleared of injury Friday to reunite with fellow pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc for the crunch third Test.

The five-match series is finely poised at 1-1 after the visitors won the first game in Perth by 295 runs before crumbling to a 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide.

Hazlewood took five wickets in Perth but picked up a side strain that ruled him out of the next clash.

Scott Boland performed admirably in his place, but it was not enough to save him.

“Josh Hazlewood comes back. He’s had no hiccups, he had a really good bowl yesterday and a couple of days previous,” skipper Cummins told reporters. “Him and the medical team are super confident.”

There are no other changes for the Test starting Saturday. Cummins admitted it was hard to leave out Boland, but suggested he could still play a part in the series.

“It’s tough, he was fantastic in Adelaide,” he said of the 35-year-old seamer, who bagged five wickets in the match.

“He’s unfortunately spent a fair bit of time on the bench over the past 18 months. And whenever he’s played, he’s been fantastic.

“A shame for Scotty, but still a fair bit to play out this series. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t get another crack at some point.”

The Gabba used to be a fortress for Australia, who were unbeaten there since 1988 until India finally breached it in 2021 to clinch their four-Test series 2-1.

Australia won their next two Tests in Brisbane, against England and South Africa, but were upset again earlier this year by the West Indies.

Cummins played down the significance of results at particular venues.

“It’s just a venue really. We play at dozens and dozens of venues each year,” he said.

Agencies