Team India (IND vs ENG Test, 2022)
The final match of the second edition of the World Test Championship will be played between India and Australia from June 7. The 15-member squad of the Indian team has already been announced. At the same time, there are ongoing speculations about the 11th team’s game. Now a big statement has come out from the Indian veteran regarding the same and he has also selected his last 11. Significantly, many senior players including team captain Rohit Sharma and fellow opener Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami etc. are playing currently in the IPL playoffs. These players will depart for London after May 28. At the same time, there were reports that Virat Kohli, Mohammad Siraj left on Wednesday.
Ahead of this grand match which will be held at Kennington Oval in London, the former head coach of India team Ravi Shastri selected his 11th player. He believes that in this grand match, India team should go against Australia with their strong side and both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja should be included in game 11. Significantly, in the year 2021, when Shastri was the England tour manager, the Indian team won the test match at the Oval, but at that time fast bowlers Jaspreet Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur, apart from then vice-captain Rohit Sharma’s century innings played important roles. This time Bumrah is not part of the team.
Shastri chose Playing 11
Ravi Shastri, while choosing his playing XI for the final, said Bumrah’s absence has dealt a heavy blow to India and the team should go with another spinner. Shastri said on an ICC show that India had done well in England last time because the team had Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj. So you had four fast bowlers with an all-rounder at Shardul. If your fast bowling attack is not very good. If you feel that some of the fast bowlers have aged and cannot bowl as fast as before then you should go for two bowlers as both Ashwin and Jadeja are quality bowlers.
He further said that if the court is hard and dry then you should go with two spinners. The weather plays a big part in England, but I think it’s sunny there now, but I don’t know the weather in England. Therefore, it would be good for India to go with two shooters, two fast bowlers and an all-rounder. Apart from this, you must include five batsmen and a goaltender in the team. So this will be my team mix if conditions are normal at The Oval. You have to field players who can beat Australia. As far as the goalkeeper is concerned, Shastri has preferred KS Bharath over Ishan Kishan.
Ravi Shastri will play 11 for the WTC final
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (goalkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.
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