India will be forced to make at least one change for the fourth Test after batsman Rohit Sharma returned home because of the birth of his first child.
Sharma flew out of Melbourne shortly after India retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy by defeating Australia at the MCG, where his first-innings knock of 63 not out hammered home the tourists' advantage in the third Test.
As teammates celebrated in Melbourne, Sharma was en route to be with wife Ritika and their baby girl.
Sharma, among the world's best one-day batsmen, will return to Sydney on January 8, ready to torment Australia in the three-match ODI series that follows the final Test.
Allrounder Hardik Pandya headlines the list of candidates to take Sharma's place in the XI seeking to complete India's first Test series win in Australia.
Pandya, who averages 31 with bat and ball from 11 Tests, is yet to feature in the series but has recovered from the back injury he suffered in September.
Prior to the four-Test series opener, India captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri both admitted the tourists would miss Pandya.
"Every side would like to have a fast-bowling allrounder, which we don't have right now with Hardik injured," Kohli said
India may also opt to replace Sharma with one of the two openers they axed after losing the second Test.
Recalling KL Rahul or Murali Vijay would allow Hanuma Vihari, who struggled in Melbourne after being promoted to open, to return to the middle order.
Another option on the cards, especially if a spin-friendly pitch is produced for the SCG, is calling up offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the absence of Sharma.
Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have scored a combined five Test centuries, underling their talent with the willow, and unleashing five frontline bowlers would do little to restore confidence among Australia's misfiring top six.
Kohli suggested on Sunday that Ashwin, who has missed the past two Tests with a side strain, is "very close to being match fit".
"He's been bowling a lot of overs," Kohli said.
"He will be willing to push himself."
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