India's Predicted XI vs Australia, WTC Final: Ravichandran Ashwin Or Ravindra Jadeja Or Both - Major Question For Rohit Sharma's Team

07.06.2023 - 03:01 sports.ndtv.com

Team India will be up against Australia in the much-awaited World Test Championship final at The Oval starting from Wednesday.

India have been the most consistent side over the past two WTC cycles and also reached knockout phases of major white-ball tournaments over the last 10 years but an ICC trophy has eluded them.

The last major ICC trophy India won was way back in 2013 when it bagged the Champions Trophy in England. A lot of debate regarding the Playing XI has been going on, especially for the position of the wicketkeeper.

As Rishabh Pant has been out of action since December, last year and KL Rahul has also been ruled out, the squad consists of Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat as the wicketkeeping options. Here's what we think could be India's playing XI against Australia for the WTC Final: Rohit Sharma:The Indian skipper had a mediocre run in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians and will look for redemption in the WTC final.

cricket Australia Cricket Team Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Australia India county Sussex

With India set to tour West Indies next month, the BCCI announced the squads for the Test and ODI series earlier this week. Rohit Sharma will lead the side in both formats, while Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya will deputise him in Tests and ODIs, respectively. In another big development, veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara was axed from the team, following his poor outing with the bat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While analysing India's squad, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal shared his views on the upcoming tour.

Ravichandran Ashwin's Message For Yashasvi Jaiswal And Ruturaj Gaikwad After Test Call-Up Wins Internet

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad were among the top performers in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) and their consistency was rewarded on Friday as both youngsters were picked in the India squad for the two-match Test series against West Indies. While Jaiswal was just part of the Test squad, Gaikwad was also included in the ODI squad. Veteran India skipper Ravichandran Ashwin took to Twitter to post a heartfelt message for both the youngsters after their maiden call-up to the Indian cricket team.

Aaron Finch Picks 'Difference Maker' For Australia In WTC Final. It's Not India's Batting Failure

Former Australia white-ball skipper Aaron Finch believes the 285-run first innings partnership between Steve Smith and Travis Head made the difference in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval. India finished runners-up for the second consecutive time in the WTC final as Australia clinched the mace with a massive 209-run win on Sunday. India had lost the inaugural edition of WTC final to New Zealand.

"I Fail To Understand...": Sachin Tendulkar Slams India's WTC Final Team Selection

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar found senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's exclusion from India's playing XI for the World Test Championship final baffling, as a spinner of his calibre doesn't need conducive conditions to be effective. Australia thrashed India by 209 runs in the WTC final and Ashwin's absence from XI was defended by coach Rahul Dravid, who said that overcast conditions forced them to pick a fourth specialist seamer, even though the opposition line-up comprised five left-handers. There was bright sunshine on all five days and Australia raced to 469 in the first innings, literally shutting the doors on India.

WTC Final: "India Have Picked Wrong Side" - Australia Great Cuts No Slack In Blasting Rohit Sharma And Co

The great Steve Waugh has become the latest former cricketer to question India's team selection for the World Test Championship final against Australia, saying they have "picked the wrong side" by not including Ravichandran Ashwin on a tricky pitch. World Cup-winning Australian captain Waugh's assessment comes after the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Ricky Ponting and Sanjay Manjrekar expressed their surprise at the Indian team management's decision to take to the field at The Oval without senior off-spinner Ashwin, currently the world's number one bowler in Tests.

Rishabh Pant Has A Special Message As Team India Fights To Stay In Contest vs Australia In WTC Final

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant may not be playing the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval but he is keeping a tab of the clash from the comfort of his home. Pant is currently recovering from critical injuries sustained in a horrific car accident last year. Pant took to Instagram to share a story of him watching the match. His story featured a crossed-fingers and heart emoji as a caption.