The left-handed opening batsman was included in the Australia Test squad for the last two Tests in Sydney and Brisbane with team assistant coach Andrew McDonald hinting on Thursday that he would be played even if he is not 100% fit.
After a limited international cricket action last year, Team India brace for an action-filled 2021.
Smith has aggregated just 10 runs in four innings of the first two Tests averaging only 3.33 per innings.
Both Labuschagne and No. 4 Steve Smith, the mainstays of Australian batting, have struggled to get going in the series with the latter aggregating just 10 in four innings.
Rohit had joined the rest of his teammates at a Melbourne hotel after landing in the Australian city post the completion of the 14-day mandatory quarantine period in Sydney.
Both the Aussie batsmen were back at the nets on what would have been the fifth day of the second Test trying to find a method to counter the leg-side theory.
In the absence of Warner, who was recovering from a groin muscle tear, Australia's batting failed miserably in the first two matches.
The final call on who will play between Shardul and T Natarajan will be taken by the head coach Ravi Shastri, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and bowling coach Bharathi Arun after reaching Sydney.
Umesh ruled out of the remainder of Australia vs India series and is set to return to India; T Natarajan is the likely replacement.
The matches were due to take place on January 22 in Canberra, January 25 in Melbourne and January 28 in Hobart.
Stand-in India captain Ajinkya Rahane slammed his 12th Test ton to put the visitors in a commanding position at the MCG. On the second day of the Boxing Day clash against Australia.
India got a foot in the door of the second Test after they reduced Australia to 133 for six wickets in their second innings at the end of the third day's play in the second Test at the MCG. The Aussies are ahead of India by just two runs.
The Aussies are ahead of India by just two runs and have four wickets in hand. India are yet to bat in the second innings.
Brett Lee and Shane Warne questioned third umpire's decision after hotspot reveals no edge while Snicko technology suggested a sharp noise.
It was one of those deliveries by Bumrah which just clipped one bail before going to Rishabh Pant.
Rahane pats Jadeja after getting run out for no fault of his own; was run out by the smallest of margin while responding to a quick single call by Jadeja.
The 33-year-old pacer limped off the field after appearing to injured his calf while bowling the team's seventh over after the lunch break on the day.
Rahane's innings ended after scoring 112 runs, adding further eight runs to his overnight score, when he got run out of a brilliant piece of fielding from Marnus Labuschagne.
The debutant says facing an international quality bowlers in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav at nets over last few overseas Test series was a huge confidence booster.
Rahane remained unbeaten on 104 in a 100-plus partnership with No.7 Ravindra Jadeja, who holds on to the crease on 40 as India put 277/5 on the board.
Top News
Latest News
