India vs Australia Boxing Day Test in pics: Ajinkya Rahane and Indian team sweat it out at the MCG
Ajinkya Rahane and Indian cricket team have been practising hard in the build-up to the Melbourne Test that will begin on December 26 vs Australia.
The Indian cricket team arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday after finishing the first Test in Adelaide which ended in three days. The Indian cricket team arrived in Melbourne minus Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami, with the Indian cricket team captain leaving Australia as he will be on paternity leave. Mohammed Shami's participation has been curtailed after he was hit on the arm by a Pat Cummins bouncer which fractured his arm. With Kohli gone, Ajinkya Rahane will now lead India in the remainder of the three Tests in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
With as many as five changes expected in the Indian cricket team, all the players in the contingent were subject to intense training. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur were out through the paces as India were looking for a pacer to replace Mohammed Shami. With Bumrah now the marquee player and with India looking to stay alive in the series, the onus will be on Ajinkya Rahane to ensure that he continues his unbeaten run. Rahane has had success against Australia in 2017 as well as in the other Test against Afghanistan. Ahead of the Melbourne Test, here are some of the practice pictures from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.