WTC Final: Probable playing XI of India against Australia

India and Australia will play the World Test Championship Final starting from tomorrow at The Oval, London, England. The two heavyweights of test cricket will go head-to-head for the ICC Test mace. Here are the probable playing XI of India.

Probable playing XI of India

Top-Order

Rohit Sharma (c)

Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will open the batting for India. Rohit has scored the fourth most runs for India in the 2021-23 WTC cycle. The opening batter has 700 runs in the cycle in 10 matches. He has scored two centuries and two half-centuries in the 17 innings he has batted. 

Shubman Gill 

His partner at the top, Gill has been in sublime touch this year. The 23-year-old opener has scored 476 runs in just seven matches including two centuries and one half-century.

Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara will bat at number three, he has scored the most runs for India in this cycle. He has scored 887 runs including a solitary century and six half-centuries. Pujara has always been someone who has scored against Aussies. The 35-year-old batter has scored 2033 runs against Australia at an average of 50.82.

Middle-Order

Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli will be a crucial player for India. Experts like Ricky Ponting feel that the former Indian captain is back to his best. Ponting talked about Kohli and said, “And I had a good chat to him about his batting and where he was at and his career. And he said to me then that he actually feels like he’s almost back to his absolute best.” Kohli has scored the second most runs for India in this WTC cycle. The number 4 batter has scored 869 runs which include a century and three half-centuries.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane made a sensational comeback to the red ball team after being dropped in January 2022. Rahane last played a test match against South Africa in January 2022. He was added to the squad for the one-off test final with players like Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant unavailable for the match.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja has been arguably India’s best player in this cycle. The all-rounder has been in great touch with both bat and ball in hand. Jadeja has scored 673 runs with a highest score of 175*. He has made two centuries and three half-centuries during this cycle. With the ball in hand, the left-arm spinner has taken 43 wickets and just sits behind Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah in the list for most wickets taken for India in this cycle. He has picked three 5-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.

Kona Srikar Bharat (wk)

KS Bharat has only played four games in this cycle. His four games came against Australia in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy which India won. In those games, he scored 101 runs but the lack of wicket-keeping options in the squad will most probably get him selected in the playing XI.

Lower-Order

Ravichandran Ashwin

Even though the conditions will suggest that India should go with a 4th pacer in Shardul Thakur, but Rahul Dravid and Rohit are expected to back veteran off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has taken 61 wickets for India in this cycle. His bowling average in the cycle was just 19.67. India’s number 8 batter has batting prowess as well. He has scored 444 runs including two half-centuries in the cycle and his inclusion in the final will help India as he can lengthen the batting batting depth.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav will play the third seamer role in India’s line-up. He has picked up 20 wickets in eight matches at a bowling average of 30.55.

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami will lead the bowling attack as his experience in England will come in handy as India is missing their frontline fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. Shami has taken 41 wickets in this cycle at an average of 27.12. In England, where the pacers get assistance, Shami will play a key role in India’s bowling line-up.

Mohammed Siraj

The number 11 for India would be Mohammed Siraj who has taken 31 wickets in this cycle. Out of his 31 wickets, 18 came in England where he played an important role in India drawing the series 2-2. His raw pace and movement in the air and off the pitch could prove to be dangerous for the Australian batters.

Also Read: The Ashes: Schedule, Venue and other details

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