Dhawan, Pujara expected to be axed

Sydney, Jan 5: Newly appointed Indian Test captain Virat Kohli is set to make a clear statement that he is the big boy in town by axing opener Shikhar Dhawan, who reportedly stood up to him in a heated exchange in Brisbane.

The 26–year–old Kohli is wasting no time in marking out his territory, with opener Dhawan and middle–order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara expected to be dropped for the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), reports heraldsun.com.au.

The Indians are set to go into the dead rubber with a new–look batting order that promotes Rohit Sharma to number three and sends Lokesh Rahul out to open with Murali Vijay.

But the talking point is Dhawan, who was also criticised for not going out to bat in the second Test’s fourth morning, leaving Kohli exposed to the field of play without much preparation.

Dhawan was hit on hand in the batting practice before play, and made a last–minute decision not to resume his innings. Kohli departed cheaply and reportedly fired up at Dhawan when he returned to the sheds.

The left–hander then went out to bat and made 81 which indicated his injury was not that serious.

Departed captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had also admitted at the time that there was unrest in the Indian dressing room. IANS