India is likely to usher in some changes when they take on Australia in the Boxing Day Test starting December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. According to reports, India captain Rohit Sharma will open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal while KL Rahul will drop one place to No.1. 3. India could potentially field two spinners – Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja – with either Shubman Gill or Nitish Kumar Reddy likely to face the axe. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep retain their place in the pace bowling department.

The series is tied 1-1 after three tests. India defeated Australia by 295 runs in the first Test in Perth before the hosts equalized with a comfortable 10-wicket win in Adelaide. Meanwhile, the rain-hit third Test last week ended in a draw.

Unlike Brisbane, the weather in Melbourne is most likely to remain clear throughout the five days of play. There is a 25 percent chance of rain on Day 3 and Day 4. Otherwise the weather will remain hot and humid.

Meanwhile, Australia named their playing XI on the eve of the game, with in-form batsman Travis Head declared ready to play.

Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed two changes to the team, with seamer Scott Boland expected to step in for the injured Josh Hazlewood.

Teenage opener Sam Konstas had already been earmarked for his debut as a replacement for Nathan McSweeney.

19-year-old Konstas becomes Australia’s youngest Test debutant since Cummins took the field against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011.

Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (lead actor), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India Probably XI: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep