What could India’s Playing 11 for the WTC final look like?
All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur
The Indian team made a huge mistake last time by playing two spinners in the English conditions. Over the last few years, the Indian team has seemed to prefer Jadeja over Ashwin in foreign conditions where the ball does not turn much. The sole reason behind this is the fact that Jadeja is a better batsman than Ashwin.
Moreover, before his injury, Jadeja was constantly hitting crucial fifties lower down the order. Jadeja is a versatile player and he can play aggressively as well as could save the innings if required so.
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Along with Jadeja, the team would probably choose Shardul Thakur to be Ashwin’s replacement in England’s overcast conditions. Shardul’s ability to swing the ball both ways makes him a great pick in England. In 8 test matches so far, Shardul has picked up 27 wickets at an amazing average of 24.4. Not only that, he has been very pivotal down the order and has played some really good knocks. His knock of 67 runs at the Gabba is something we all remember and cherish.
Currently, the best opening combination that India have in tests is that of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Both the batsmen are in good form and would prefer to carry it to the WTC final. Rohit, who is expected to lead the team in the final, would be the first-choice opener for the team.
There could be a fiddle between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill for the choice of the second opener but Gill seems to be winning that race by a huge mile. Coming in to replace the out-of-form KL Rahul in the team, Gill scored a brilliant century in the fourth test match of the series.
KL Rahul has failed to leave a mark in the last 10 innings of his test career. He was recently sacked as the vice-captain of the Indian test team as well. What enhances Gill’s chances of being India’s second opener beside Rohit Sharma is his current form. Every time he walks out to bat, it is just a treat to watch. He already has 5 centuries to his name this year alone and would be looking forward to piling on more.
Middle Order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer
India would prefer the services of dependable Cheteshwar Pujara at three. Ever since The Wall Rahul Dravid retired, it is Pujara’s for the taking. He’ll be equally supported by Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the middle order.
While Pujara has the ability to hold down one end, Kohli and Iyer keep the scoreboard moving, and can even change gears to play fast cricket if the situation demands so. Pujara’s grit and Kohli’s resilience make them a great duo and India would not want to change the dynamic between the two. Kohli’s century in the final Test against Australia has given the team management a sense of hope and relief that he has still got it.
As for Shreyas Iyer, his numbers do the talking for him. Even though his Test career is very young and he has featured in just 8 games, Iyer has shown that the team management can depend upon him to counter a collapse and score big runs. However, Iyer recently suffered an injury and it is still unknown when he will make a comeback. If he is not well before the WTC final, the Indian team could go for someone like Hanuma Vihari in the middle order, who used to hold the position before Iyer replaced him in the squad. Sarfaraz Khan and Suryakumar Yadav too seem like good options but the team management would not like to conduct any experiments at the final stage.
Wicketkeeper: KS Bharat
While this may be a controversial choice for the WTC final, he is the only option India currently have. KS Bharat may not have been able to fill in Rishabh Pant’s shoes exactly, but since he played all four games in the Border Gavaskar test, it is more likely that he will travel with the team to England as well.
However, a lot of experts have a different opinion. Former cricketers such as Sunil Gavaskar, Dinesh Karthik, and others believe that India could play KL Rahul in the middle order and replace Bharat with him. Rahul already plays in the middle order in the ODI team, and he could surely replicate the same in the test team as well.
All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur
The Indian team made a huge mistake last time by playing two spinners in the English conditions. Over the last few years, the Indian team has seemed to prefer Jadeja over Ashwin in foreign conditions where the ball does not turn much. The sole reason behind this is the fact that Jadeja is a better batsman than Ashwin.
Moreover, before his injury, Jadeja was constantly hitting crucial fifties lower down the order. Jadeja is a versatile player and he can play aggressively as well as could save the innings if required so.
Along with Jadeja, the team would probably choose Shardul Thakur to be Ashwin’s replacement in England’s overcast conditions. Shardul’s ability to swing the ball both ways makes him a great pick in England. In 8 test matches so far, Shardul has picked up 27 wickets at an amazing average of 24.4. Not only that, he has been very pivotal down the order and has played some really good knocks. His knock of 67 runs at the Gabba is something we all remember and cherish.
Bowlers: Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj
The three speedsters would probably be India’s first-choice fast bowlers in the seaming English conditions. Umesh, Shami, and Siraj all got to play in the Border Gavaskar trophy and all three of them had their moments with the ball.
While Umesh Yadav and Shami can be lethal with the new ball, Siraj has the ability to control the old ball pretty well. In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Umesh and Shami will have to assume the senior roles and take charge of the pace attack.
In a very slight chance, India could pick Jaydev Unadkat into the team, just to create that off-angle for the Aussie batsmen. Unadkat has been in sublime form in the domestic circuit and the Aussies haven’t faced him before. India could use him as an element of surprise in the final. Siraj, Umesh, Shami, and even Shardul are all right-hand fast bowlers. Thus, it would be nice to have a left-arm pacer on the team for a change.
