"He Is Proper Test Match Wicketkeeper": Former India Selector Backs KS Bharat For WTC Final

31.05.2023 - 09:55 sports.ndtv.com

Former India selector Sarandeep Singh says picking K S Bharat over Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper for the World Test Championship final against Australia is a no brainer and he would also choose Umesh Yadav over Shardul Thakur in the playing eleven.

In the absence of the injured Rishabh Pant, Kishan, who is yet to play Test cricket, can provide the x-factor but Sarandeep feels Bharat walks into the eleven as the frontline wicketkeeper. "KS Bharat for sure.

He is a proper Test match wicketkeeper and we saw that against Australia at home, he kept superbly. He has been around for a while and he should get the opportunity," Sarandeep told PTI on Wednesday.

The WTC final will be played at the Oval in London from June 7. The former India spinner said Kishan's time will come. "Ishan is an opener.

cricket Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team Test Mohammed Siraj Rishabh Pant Australia London India

India batter KL Rahul, who is currently working on his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, shared a video on his social media, updating the fans about his recovery. Rahul, who captained Lucknow Super Giants, was injured during the IPL and had to pull out of the tournament and the subsequent World Test Championship final after a thigh surgery was advised. He also underwent a successful operation in the United Kingdom and now shared a video of his workout routine.

Rishabh Pant Climbs Stairs With Ease In His Latest Video. Fans React

The entire country is waiting for the comeback of India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been out of action since December, last year. The 25-year-old cricketer met with a horrific car accident while travelling on the Delhi-Dehradun highway. Pant is currently undergoing his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and keeps on updating his fans and loved ones about his progress. Recently, he shared a video, where he can been seen walking comfortably without any support.

"Siraj Threw Ball Towards Smith...": Ganguly Explains What India Missed At Start Of WTC Final

Australia defeated India by 209 runs in the final of the World Test Championship to claim their maiden title last week. The game was dominated by the Pat Cummins-led side and India barely had their moments of joy. Australia ended Day 1 with a score of 327 for 3 and that put the side well ahead in the game. India did make a good comeback on the following day, but it was certainly late for them as the batting side still managed to post 469 runs on the board.

ICC Test Rankings: Ajinkya Rahane Makes Big Gains, R Ashwin Remains No. 1 Bowler

India's comeback man Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday climbed to the 37th position while Shardul Thakur rose to 94th among batters, even as Ravichandran Ashwin maintained his top spot among Test bowlers despite not featuring in the World Test Championship final. In a rare achievement, batters from Australia occupy the top three places in the rankings as Steve Smith and Travis Head joined top-ranked Marnus Labuschagne following their centuries in the WTC final win against India at The Oval.

KL Rahul Checks In At NCA For Extensive Rehabilitation Programme

Senior India batter KL Rahul has checked in here at the National Cricket Academy to start his extensive rehabilitation programme post a thigh surgery with an eye to make a return during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in September ahead of the marquee ODI World Cup. Rahul, who captained Lucknow Super Giants, was injured during the IPL and had to pull out of the tournament and the subsequent World Test Championship final after a thigh surgery was advised. Rahul underwent a successful operation in the United Kingdom and on Tuesday posted pictures of NCA on his social media account with a tweet "home".

"Aggression Is Very Important...": Mohammed Siraj's Honest Take

India pacer Mohammed Siraj believes aggression brings the best out of him, saying being aggressive on the ground is the recipe for his success. Siraj has received a lot of international success since making his Test debut against Australia in 2020. The Hyderabad pacer has been India's stand-out performer with the ball in the ongoing World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, picking four wickets in the first innings. "Aggression is very important in my bowling. Test cricket is based on aggression. It's not just about delivering simple ball and walking away without saying anything," Siraj said in a video posted by the ICC.