Marsh, Smith dig Australia out of a hole in Pakistan Test
Hardik Pandya hasn't featured in Tests since 2018 and has only recently recovered from a career-threatening back injury.
Kohli, who made 0 and 62 in Chennai, stayed in fifth spot among batsmen with 838 points. Kane Williamson (919) of New Zealand retained the top position with Steve Smith (891) of Australia in second spot.
Labuschagne has regained the No. 1 position after Root overtook him in mid-June with successive centuries against New Zealand.
India dominates ICC Test Rankings
With Kane Williamson likely to miss the Test, New Zealand will have a lot of work to do in the 3rd Test in Sydney.
Smith said he did not regard his injury as a major issue.
The 6'7" seam-bowling all-rounder's inclusion in Australia's line-up was expected after his impressive hundred in the first warm-up game against India A.
The 36-year-old remains nominally in Australia's plans for the tour of India in February but is under pressure to perform in the three-match series starting at the Gabba on Saturday after struggling against a modest West Indies attack.
India has lost three finals and on four occasion it bit dust at the semifinal stage. It also made an exit at the preliminary stage of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Former pacer Michael Kasprowicz dismissed the hype around the Indian pitches and said Australia need to learn and adapt as they're typical Indian pitches.
Ahead of the WTC final between India and Australia, Ricky Ponting picked Australia's playing XI.
Glimpses from Day 3 of the second Test between India and Australia at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi, February 19, 2023.
'Should players and administrators be telling the curators how to prepare the pitch and what sort of pitch they want? It is the greatest bit of rubbish I have ever heard'.
The Australian team will prepare for the six Tests by undergoing a high-intensity training camp in Beckenham, featuring centre-wicket practice and net sessions.
This wasn't the first time the 29 year old delivered a match-winning knock on the global stage. Five months ago, he secured victory for Australia in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval with a rapid 163.
As Australia opted to go with just one pacer for second Test against India, former spinner Steve O'Keefe opened up on the team's chances of beating India at home.
David Warner and Ashton Agar were included in Australia's squad for next month's one-day international series in India on Thursday despite being sent home from the test tour this week.
Cummins won an important toss but Australia could not quite vindicate his decision to bat
Australian cricket legend Ian Healy is shocked by the team management's decision to include two off-spinners -- Nathan Lyon and young Todd Murphy -- who have almost similar action.
Opener Shubman Gill attained a career-best second position and is the highest-ranked among three India players who are now in the top 10.
England's stuttering title defence at the 50-overs World Cup eventually crumbled on Saturday
Sri Lanka's Chamika Karunaratne picked up three wickets, including the crucial one of Glenn Maxwell, to trigger an Australian collapse as the hosts won the rain-hit second one-day international by 26 runs.
Saini limped off the field due to groin pain and was taken for the scans.
The Test batting chart is headed by Australia's Marnus Labuschagne (915 points), followed by England captain Joe Root (900) while New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson (879) dislodged Steve Smith (877) from the No. 3 slot.
Images from Day 1 of the third Test played between India and Australia at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday
Scott Boland will become the first indigenous Australian Test player since Jason Gillespie played his last match in 2006 when he receives his baggy green cap on Sunday.
Maxwell put on a solid partnership of 103 runs with Pat Cummins for the highest seventh-wicket stand or lower for Australia in World Cups.
The skipper is also counting on the likes of part-time spinners Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to pitch in the slow bowling department.
Australia have kept their bowling options wide open for India tour
The 32-year-old Starc was diagnosed with a detached tendon in the middle finger and missed the third and final Test against the Proteas at Sydney.
Images from the third ODI between India and Australia in Chennai on Wednesday.
Australia have won only four Test series in India in three quarters of a century of touring the country, the last coming in 2004.
Pucovski rode his luck and Marnus Labuschagne showed resolve as the duo hit half-centuries to put Australia in a dominating position in a rain-curtailed opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
India will be hoping to pull off a miracle on Sunday by surviving Australia's relentless bowling onslaught.
Images from Day 2 of the Pink-ball first Test between Australia and India, in Adelaide, on Friday.
India launched their home World Cup campaign with a six-wicket victory over Australia after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul guided them through a jittery run chase on Sunday.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Test played between Australia and Pakistan at SCG on Friday.
Australia captain Pat Cummins doesn't mind staying a bit undercooked going into the high-octane WTC final against India.
