India and Australia are locked up in a crucial third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba in Brisbane. The series has been thrilling so far, with both sides winning a game each. India started the series with a magnificent 295-run win before Australia bounced back after a 10-wicket drubbing at Adelaide Oval. A win in the third Test will put the winning team ahead. Both India and Australia are desperate for a win in the series as it will ease their qualification for the World Test Championship final.

Did India Make A Mistake By Bowling First?

India won the toss and opted to bowl first under overcast conditions. Usually, teams opt to bowl if there is rain around. This gives bowlers an edge over the batsmen. Secondly, the Gabba pitch was expected to support the bowlers early on. According to a pitch report by the Gabba curator, the pitch was supposed to have extra pace and bounce. Considering all factors, bowling first was an easy decision for Rohit Sharma.

Also Read: Australia Confirm Playing XI For 3rd Test

"We're going to bowl first. Little bit overcast and little bit of grass, looks a bit soft as well, want to make best use of the conditions. Lot of cricket to be played, both teams have played good cricket in the last two games. Big game for us here, we'll do what is expected of us. We'll play good cricket, we understand we have to capture some moments, we didn't do that in the previous game which is why we lost," said Rohit Sharma at the toss.

"It's absolutely buzzing, the guys are looking forward to the match, we're looking forward to coming out here and playing. Looks a little soft at this point in time, conditions bit overcast as well, it will get better to bat as it goes on. We've made two changes, Jadeja and Akash back in place of Ashwin and Harshit," he added.

However, it seems the move could backfire for the visitors as the Indian bowlers didn't get the movement they were expecting with the new ball in the first hour of play. The wicket looked flat and terrific for batting. If Australia can post a big score in the first innings, it will be very hard for India to bounce back in the Test.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Cricket, Sports and around the world.