KL Rahul`s exit from the India squad due to wrist injury has left India with fewer batting options going into the third Test against Australia. India are already missing their batting mainstay and regular captain Virat Kohli, who has returned home for the birth of his child.

Rahul could have made the playing eleven in place of either his Karnataka teammate Mayank Agarwal at the opening slot or at No. 5 in place of Hanuma Vihari. Both Vihari and Agarwal had impressed during the 2018-19 tour but are struggling to get runs during the ongoing series.