Mayank Agarwal and Hardik Pandya arrived here yesterday as Team India begin planning for the third Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Players have been given rest until December 22, which means Pandya and Agarwal will have three days to stake a claim for a place in the playing XI.

Batting-friendly wicket
Early reports suggest that the pitch here is likely to be batting-friendly, meaning Hardik Pandya could come into the equation immediately. But it is Agarwal who is more of a curious case. The form of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay has been India's biggest concern ahead of the Boxing Day Test and it is this department where India need a quick fix. But will the team management be eager to throw Agarwal into the deep end and if so, who does he replace?