Ravichandran Ashwin in India squad to face Australia in Sydney Test after selection U-turn

[HICHEM]

India will make a late decision on whether Ravichandran Ashwin is fit to face Australia in Sydney

India have reversed their decision to rule spinner Ravichandran Ashwin out of their squad for the fourth Test against Australia, while pace bowler Ishant Sharma was also mysteriously omitted.

Ashwin suffered an abdominal strain in the first Test in Adelaide that kept him out of the second and third Tests in Perth and Melbourne respectively.

India skipper Virat Kohli said he was "very disappointed" Ashwin was set to miss the final match of the series but barely an hour later, the spinner's name was included on the squad list tweeted by the BCCI.

"A decision on R Ashwin's availability will be taken on the morning of the Test," it said ahead of what is expected to be turning wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

First-team regular Sharma was not included, however, with the reasons for his omission unclear - fellow fast bowler Umesh Yadav was named as his replacement.

Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was also on the squad list and could play alongside finger-spinner Ravindra Jadeja if Ashwin is not fit and India opt for two slow bowlers.

Middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma, who struck a dogged 63 in the first innings at Melbourne, is not available after flying back to Mumbai to be with his wife who recently gave birth.

KL Rahul, who was axed for the last Melbourne Test, is back in contention and could open the innings with Mayank Agarwal, with Hanuma Vihari dropping back down to No 6 as cover for Rohit.

 

Pant 'babysits' Paine's children!
Rishabh Pant 'babysits' Tim Paine's children after dare in Melbourne

The Ashwin U-turn was not explained, although there was speculation that Jadeja may also not be fully fit.

Kohli had earlier said of Ashwin: "The physio and the trainer have spoken to him in terms of what's required in order to get over that injury.

"He is very disappointed with the fact that he has not been able to recover in time, but the things have been laid out to him (over) what needs to be done to get back to full fitness.

"Honestly, you can't predict an injury, when it happens you just manage and doing what he can to get over that injury."

Australia could drop out-of-form opener Aaron Finch and push Usman Khawaja up the order from No 3 for a Test they must win to draw the series 2-2 and preserve their record of never having lost a home Test series to India

Usman Khawaja could open the batting for Australia in Sydney

"If that's the way we go, Usman will go out and give his all as he always does," said Australia skipper Tim Paine. "I think the way he's handled the last month or so has been exemplary, it's a real credit to him.

"It's just team balance really. We'll have a final look at the wicket and we'll have our last chat then. We're not too far away.

"We'll be looking to pick the best XI that we think is the best combination to win this Test and the wicket will play a part in that."

"This Test is going to be a real focus for our batting group," added Paine, whose side were rolled for 151 and 261 in Melbourne as they lost by 137 runs.

"We know we're not going to win Test matches without scoring hundreds. That's something we've spoken about and something we are really keen to improve and address."

Watch the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Ashes and the Women's Ashes live on Sky Sports Cricket in 2019!

Before then watch every ball of England's Test and ODI series against Windies, starting with the first Test on Wednesday, January 23.