Published: Mar 14, 2013, 09:19 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 14, 2013, 09:19 AM (IST)
Shikhar Dhawan is set to make debut in the third Test at Mohali © AFP
Mohali: Mar 14, 2013
Rain has delayed the start of proceedings of Day One of the third Test at Mohali between India and Australia on Thursday, as the entire first session was washed out.
The umpires have decided to take lunch at the scheduled time of 11.30am IST. With the start-stop rain in Mohali, there are no signs of play resuming any time soon today.
It has been raining persistently since early Thurday morning at Mohali. The toss could not take place as per schedule due to the inclement weather.
The Indian team was learnt to have returned back to the hotel even as the Australians enjoyed a cup of tea, after the outfield was rendered wet due to incessant rain, barely hours before the start of the match at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
The super soakers were out in the field as the groundsmen got down to get the surface back in shape for the match.
The big news for India will be the debut of Delhi batsman Shikhar Dhawan who will replace citymate Virender Sehwag, who was dropped after failing in the first two Tests, averaging just nine.
The Indian batting order has put together good performances so far. Led by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli have scored a ton each.
For Australia, Matthew Wade is not fit to play and Glenn Maxwell has been left out.
(With inputs from PTI)
Teams:
India (probable): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.
Australia (probable): Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Michael Clarke (c), Steven Smith, Moises Henriques, Brad Haddin (wk), Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Lyon.
