India chase history as Ishant, Rohit misses out

In-form Ishant Sharma left out from SCG Test due to injury.

Sydney: India enter the final Test of the series with a 2-1 lead, and although they have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli and Co. would be hoping to go for the kill.

India don't flaunt an impressive record in Sydney, having won only one of 11 Tests played at the scene, their last triumph coming in 1978. In any case, this time around, the chances are intensely stacked to support Kohli.

A success or a draw will guarantee that India will make history by beating Australia out of the blue at their own terrace and the hosts won't abandon it simple for India as they will hope to win and level the arrangement.

There are different achievements up for snatches as well. One more win and Kohli can outperform Sourav Ganguly as the best Indian chief abroad. With 11 wins, Kohli and Ganguly have the most triumphs outside India.

After a forgettable 2018, the new year presents Australia the shot for a new beginning. A success here would go far in lifting the hanging shoulders of Tim Paine and Co. Their knocking down some pins looks arranged with three pacers and one spinner sharing the obligations.

Pro spinner Ashwin prone to sit out. Ashwin, who endured a stomach strain on the fourth day of the principal Test in Adelaide, was seen preparing on Tuesday.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who played in Melbourne, is probably going to keep his place in the side. He awed with the ball and guaranteed five scalps.

Kuldeep Yadav has been named in the 13-man squad and the left-arm spinner could be given a go. Kuldeep is yet to include in this arrangement.

Discussing right-hand batsman Peter Handscomb, who was dropped from the third Test of the arrangement, Paine said that the player is great with regards to playing turn knocking down some pins and could demonstrate helpful for them if India proceeded with two spinners in the match.

Paine should juggle the need to win the fourth Test against India, with getting the correct equalization for when Smith and Warner in the long run return.

Teams from

India (13-man squad): Virat Kohli (C), A Rahane (VC), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, C Pujara, H Vihari, R Pant, R Jadeja, K Yadav, R Ashwin, M Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav

Australia: Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mithell Marsh, Tim Paine, Marnus Labuschagne, Peter Handscomb, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle

Pitch and conditions
The forecast for the match is set fair - warm and sunny - with just a small risk of showers towards days four and five.

Stats and trivia

• Australia made just four centuries in 2018, their lowest return since 1996 which brought two although from just five matches. Three of those hundreds came in the Sydney Test against England, from Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh.
• Kapil Dev holds the record for the most wickets by an India fast bowler in a Test series in Australia (25 in 1991-92), from five matches. Jasprit Bumrah currently has 20 wickets from three Tests.
• The first time the SCG hosted the Pink Test was way back in 2009 when Australia played South Africa. So far, the tradition has continued for 10 years with the Australia-India game set to be the 11th.
• A win/draw in Sydney will give India their maiden series win in Australia. It would have taken them 71 years.

Match facts
3-7 January 2019
Start time: 10:30 local (23:30 GMT -1d)