Steve Smith stood in as captain for Australia after Pat Cummins flew back home after the second Test in Delhi. Cummins will remain at home in Sydney to be at the side of his mother Maria, who is in palliative care due to breast cancer.
His Test form has been a growing concern since 2022. In 14 matches, Warner has scored just 607 runs at 26.39 which includes a double-century in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.
India struggled in both innings as Matthew Kuhnemann ran the show for the Aussies in the first innings with his maiden 5-wicket haul. Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon ensured Australia's dominance in the second innings, as he almost dismantled the entire Indian batting line-up, picking up 8 wicke
The skipper mentioned that playing on difficult pitches demands batters to be brave in with their stay on the crease while also crediting Nathan Lyon for his tenacity to keep hitting the right length throughout the Test.
Australia have been the dominant side during this World Test Championship period (2021-23), with Pat Cummins' side having won 11 of the 18 Tests they have featured in. A victory in the fourth Test against Australia in Ahmedabad will ensure India's spot in the WTC Final, but another victory f
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne took Australia across the finish line in Indore Test to reduce the four-Test series deficit 1-2 and qualify for World Test Championship final.
Team India is in a spot of bother as they have lost four wickets for 79 runs in second innings going into Tea trailing Australia by 9 runs with six wickets in hand here at the Holkar Cricket Stadium. Cheteshwar Pujara fights a lone battle for India batting on 36.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav bagged three wickets each on day-2 to bowl out Australia for 197 runs in the first innings allowing them to take an 88-run lead here at the Holkar Cricket Stadium.
The hosts resumed the innings at 84/7 with Axar Patel 6(13) and Ravichandran Ashwin 1(5) at the crease but could only add 25 runs to the total as the team was skittled out for 109.
India made two changes with Shubhman Gill replacing KL Rahul and pacer Mohammed Shami was rested to bring in Umesh Yadav. Australia also made two changes with Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc making a comeback.