India vs Australia 3rd Test, Shubman Gill press conference: 'This generation doesn't think about who's bowling, just looks at the ball'

Shubman Gill: "Congratulations from the entire Indian team on becoming a world champion. To become the youngest world champion must be a great feeling."

Gill on dealing with former seamer Morne Morkel, part of the Indian coaching setup now: "He likes to challenge us. How he used to bowl back in his day. We also like to pull his leg to make him bowl"

Gill: "You'll be afraid if you have not won. We have won last time and even in India. This generation doesn't think about who's bowling and just look at the ball."

Shubman Gill: "The discussion was about firing together as a batting group in the first innings after the Adelaide Test."

Gill: "I think the intensity with which games are played here is what makes it challenging. The mental intensity and fitness that's required here. Conditions are challenging but I think 35 overs till second new ball it gets easier to bat. It's about mental fitness."

India being represented by the top-order batter Shubman Gill in the pre-match press conference. "Very nostalgic when we came here again after 2021. Wicket we'll get to know once we play. Looks like a good wicket," he says on the historic win during the 2020-21 series.

Virat Kohli is India's highest scorer in overseas Tests since the 2023 WTC final. Yashasvi Jaiswal is not far behind

How has Virat Kohli fared in Test matches through his career and how he's done in Australia and lastly at this venue

Virat Kohli, who has played just one Test in Brisbane without reward back in 2014, is fussing over his technique, putting in the hard yards & rallying the rest as India seek batting edge in crucial third Test.

To make a strong comeback at The Gabba, this team must find that elusive quality of consistency. Simply put, India must bat long. As Rohit Sharma had said after the defeat in the pink-ball Test, "When you come to Australia the best chance of winning a Test match is by putting runs on the board." Can Kohli inspire a top-six turnaround?

Matthew Hayden has suggestions for the Indian bowling department on how to be more effective in Brisbane.

"India, when they do get a chance to bowl, need to focus on hovering around that fourth and fifth stump line a bit more. Most importantly, they must utilise their bounce--it's a key weapon for any fast bowling unit in Brisbane. The red ball will definitely feel more familiar for Test cricket. Australia, with the pink ball, have such a strong track record; they've won so much with it!" Hayden said on Star Sports.

Pat Cummins, meanwhile, declared Australia playing XI for the third Test with one change: Scott Boland sitting out for a now-fit Josh Hazlewood.

"He's (Hazlewood) had no hiccups," Cummins told reporters on Friday. "He had a really good bowl yesterday, he had another bowl in Adelaide a couple of days previously. Him and the medical team are really confident."

"It was later on in that second innings," said Cummins. "Fair to say we probably thought the game was starting to slip away. We still needed six or seven wickets and we were about 400 behind.

"We've seen it a few times where Josh has pushed through to get through a Test match and a little bit of soreness turns into a month or two of injury.

"So we made the call then that it probably wasn't worth the risk of keeping him bowling. I think he bowled an extra two overs leading into a tea break and he said it felt ok, but I just kind of thought from there, 'that's enough'."

On Boland: "It's tough. He was fantastic in Adelaide," Cummins said of the 35-year-old.

"Unfortunately he's spent quite a bit of time on the bench over the last 18 months and whenever he plays he's fantastic.

"It's a shame for Scotty, but still a fair bit to play out this series. I'd be surprised if he didn't play again in this series."

There is a possibility of strong afternoon thunder showers on first day and it could be a bit overcast with 60 percent humidity. The weather is expected to be a challenge on all five days with rain in the offing. With that in mind, a good seam bowling option won't be a bad idea

Virat Kohli was the centre of attention as he addressed his teammates on Thursday during the nets session. With vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah by his side, Kohli was seen speaking animatedly to the group and everyone, including Rohit, listened to him with rapt attention.

Rohit Sharma looked in good shape during his net session as he faced the new ball which prompted an indication that he could open the innings.

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal also faced the new ball. Rohit took on a slightly older Kookaburra at the beginning before dealing with the brand new red cherry. So who opens and who drops down the order is unclear - for now.

On the bowling front: Akash Deep is believed to be the most consistent bowler in the Indian net session but that is no indicator that he will replace the young Harshit Rana, who was taken to task by Travis Head during the second Test.

Akash Deep at the other hand troubled Jaiswal twice, getting the outside edge of his bat, and those were clear catches in the slip cordon. He also got a pat on the back from the skipper.

Harbhajan Singh: "This series is tough because both teams have had losses. What happened with Australia in Perth, maybe they didn’t expect it.

“And what happened with India in Adelaide, maybe India also didn’t expect it. Although there was a very long gap in the middle between the two Tests, sometimes such a gap spoils the momentum, and it happened here," the former spinner said.

Where should Rohit bat? "That's where he's been at his best (opening slot) over the last eight or nine years. It's not that he's going to set the world on fire - he could - but that's the place that's best for him. If he has to do damage, if he has to throw the first punch, that's the best place from where he can do it.

"And it is important that India get their judgment right here, because 1-1 in the series, this is the moving Test match. I feel whichever team wins this Test match will win the series. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind. So it is very, very important that India get the balance right, because Australia have got the confidence back," Shastri told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Harbhajan Singh: "If we look at this as a series of three matches, India has to win two out of these. Their best chances will be, I think, in Sydney and Melbourne. Anyway, if you play your best cricket at The Gabba and win there, then you will definitely win one match out of Melbourne or Sydney.

"So you should think about that. The equality of the first two Tests shows that both teams have the ability to come back. Australia has come back; now maybe it’s India’s turn to turn the tables," said Harbhajan on Star Sports.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 matches so far

1st Test in Perth: India won by 295 runs

2nd Test in Adelaide: Australia won by 10-wickets

3rd Test at The Gabba in Brisbane

4th Test at MCG in Melbourne

5th Test at SCG in Sydney

Kapil Dev has backed Rohit Sharma and believes one good innings is all he needs to turn the tide. "Everyone faces bad and good times. On one day, Rohit was also performing like the big player he is. He has so much talent and ability. All it takes is one big performance and he will be back," he told news agency ANI.

In the ongoing 2024-25 Test season, which started with home series against Bangladesh in September, Rohit has made 142 runs in six Tests across 12 innings at an average of 11.83, with best score of 52 and just one fifty to his name.

This year overall, Rohit has made 597 runs in 12 Tests and 23 innings at an average of 27.13, with two centuries and two fifties and best score of 131.

Also, after a home series loss to New Zealand after wins over Bangladesh, which was a humiliating 0-3 whitewash, and pink-ball Test loss to Australia at Adelaide, Rohit's captaincy is also under question.

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has argued that Rohit should be allowed to play in his preferred position.

"I felt that if Rohit Sharma was returning to the side, he should have gone straight back to the top to open the batting," Ponting said, as quoted by ICC.

"That's my opinion. I understand KL (Rahul) and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal had a 200-run partnership in Perth and played well, but Rohit is your captain and one of your most experienced players.

"You want him batting in his normal role. That's something they might need to reconsider--perhaps moving Rohit back to the top for Brisbane," Ponting concluded.