Five tricky selection calls that India will ponder before the Boxing Day Test at the MCG

It is Christmas eve. The festive spirit might have encouraged India to put behind them the three-day knockout in Adelaide. But interim captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Ravi Shastri have to deal with several questions concerning what their best XI for the Boxing Day Test will be. It is a tough ask for India considering they will miss Virat Kohli, who is back in India on paternity leave, as well as Mohammed Shami, who is out of the series with a broken arm.

Here are some of the key questions India will have to answer.

Drop or retain Prithvi Shaw?

From his backlift to his footwork, experts have picked holes in Shaw's technique after the opener, playing only his first Test in Australia, was bowled twice in Adelaide in the space of six balls. Shaw has already made two ducks in the six innings he has batted in so far on this tour if you include the two warm-up matches the Indians played against Australia A. Still, Shaw would want to be judged after a longer trial. Should he get that?

Pros: Shaw's strength is the blistering pace at which he scores once he gets a start. A first-class average of 51.43 and strike rate of 80.96 and a century on Test debut support the idea that the 21-year-old Shaw is that rare talent that experts from around the world believe he is. Although Melbourne also has a drop-in pitch like Adelaide, the strip has tended to play quite flat in recent years, which could make life easier for Shaw. If he gets going he can help India set a strong platform quickly, and ease the burden on the middle order.

Cons: Former India opener and captain Sunil Gavaskar believes Shaw plays too many shots too early and with hard hands. Dissecting his technique further on 7 Cricket, both Gavaskar and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting pointed out the yawning gap Shaw leaves between his bat and pad early against the new ball as well as the lateness of his front foot movement - he is often yet to plant his foot before he plays the ball. These are areas an expert Australia attack could continue to exploit relentlessly.

Time to give Shubman Gill a Test debut?

Shaw's teammate in the Under-19 World Cup two years ago, Gill has been restless to make his Test debut ever since he got a maiden call-up to the squad around a year ago. If Shaw is dropped, Gill can open or bat in the middle order as a replacement for Kohli.

Pros: Gill's biggest strength is his classical technique and preference to play along the ground. Coaches who have worked with him point out that Gill has that extra time to play his shots, which is a key strength on fast and bouncy pitches. He also has a quiet temperament. Gill has tall first-class scores playing for India A overseas and at home including double centuries in the West Indies and New Zealand. Gill got good starts in the second warm-up match in Sydney against Australia A, scoring 43 and 65.

Cons: Having started on a low note, will India be taking a risk by blooding an inexperienced batsman against a ruthless opponent at one of the most daunting cauldrons in cricket?