India vs Australia: Held back in Oz for nets, Washington Sundar may play Gabba Test; Jasprit Bumrah out

 Mumbai: The Indian team will not take any chances with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is "50% fit" ahead of the fourth Test against Australia at the Gabba. However, in the case of R Ashwin - who is suffering from back spasms - a final decision will be taken by Wednesday afternoon.

If Ashwin stands for Bumrah's Test, the Indian team will go into the game with six batsmen and five bowlers, including two spin bowling-all-rounders.

Tamil Nadu cricketer Washington Sundar, who was asked to stay back in Australia after the white ball series, now has a greater chance of wearing test whites for the fourth Test with Ashwin if the latter is declared fit to play goes.

Mayank Agarwal, who was expected to play the Test in the absence of Hanuma Vihari, was dismissed, who was also injured in the nets on Monday and is under observation. Should Agarwal also be dismissed, young Prithvi Shaw will find himself back in the scheme of things - only to play in the middle-order this time.

Given Sundar's batting abilities, he and Ashwin can be expected to play the role of all-rounders, thus boosting India's batting line-up to promote a poor bowling attack that will now feature Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, and Shardul Thakur. Will rest on his shoulders.

Sundar is considered by the team management, as he has the ability to bowl and bat a little, which means that Saha will have no place to go inside.

Meanwhile, Thakur gets a T. Natarajan is expected to take the lead given his relatively better red ball experience.

Team management will have to carefully consider the only possible scenario, the possibility of Ashwin not fitting in time. Will Ravi Shastri and Ajinkya Rahane then consider replacing Kuldeep Yadav in the spin or will he let the five bowling attack and instead walk with an extra batsman is a call that has to be taken.

Hanuma Vihari and Ravindra Jadeja have already been ruled out.

Playing XI, for now, is expected to be on the following lines: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (WK), Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw, R Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini , Shardul Thakur.