Rahul Dravid backs Srikar Bharat ahead of India's fourth Test against Australia

Bharat is in the XI ahead of the injured Rishabh Pant, who has been sidelined for an extended period after a motor vehicle accident. Bharat has been preferred to fellow wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, who has been in the squad but not the XI.

Bharat has scored 57 runs in five innings during the four-Test series against Australia - and kept wicket on challenging pitches in Delhi, Nagpur and Indore throughout.

"I think Bharat has kept beautifully for us. Even though it's not a big contribution he got 17 in the first innings in Indore, got a nice contribution in the last Test match in Delhi, he played nicely and positively," said Dravid.

"So yeah, you need a little bit of luck sometimes in these situations, and he's probably not had that, but no, I think he's shaping up really well, he's been playing really well.

"He's keeping really nicely for us which is really important as well. I think you've just got to put, sometimes, the batting performances in perspective a little bit, and be a little bit understanding of it."

Whether India drop a seamer and select an additional batsman - and retain three specialist spinners - for the final Test remains in the balance.

"We just have to meet every condition separately. We try and put together what we think is our best side and gives us the best chance to get 20 wickets and the most balanced side," added Dravid.

"So even though sometimes you may feel the bowlers are not bowling a lot, just having that balance and that ability at times to go back to a more balanced attack is really important.

"The fact that when we are able to play three spinners we bat all the way up to nine. We have to weigh everything, weigh all the options and then decide."

India have a two-one series lead. They won the first two Tests and Australia the third. The Australian XI will be without fast bowler Pat Cummins and batsman David Warner, who have returned home.