Indian captain Rohit Sharma clarified that Shubman Gill was not dropped for the Boxing Day Test, but selected an all-rounder Washington Sundar to strengthen the lower middle-order batting. Sunil Gavaskar criticized the decision, emphasizing that it effectively sidelined Gill. Sundar contributed with 19 overs and a 50-run knock, but India still faced defeat, trailing 1-2 in the series.