India has some thinking to do as they take on Australia for the World Test Championship (WTC) at The Oval. It will be a huge conundrum for India as they have to decide between seasoned spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin and a fourth seamer. Ashwin can even provide some batting support lower down the order.
India will not only have this selection headache but they would also have to take a call on their wicket-keeper. Ishan Kishan who was added to the squad later as a replacement for the injured KL Rahul has not represented India in the longest format. While KS Bharat kept wickets in the Border-Gavaskar trophy which India won at home.
Off-spinner, Ashwin has played only one match at The Oval. In that match, he took 3 wickets in 21.3 overs. Ashwin is currently the number one ranked Test bowler while he is ranked second on the ICC all-rounder rankings behind national teammate, Ravindra Jadeja.
Bowling department
Ravindra Jadeja will be the first-choice spinner for India as he brings much-needed stability to the batting order. Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are definite starters in the pace department. India could go with Umesh Yadav if Ashwin is playing while they could go with both Yadav and Shardul Thakur if Ashwin is not playing.
Even though experience and stats would say that Ashwin is a straightforward pick in the playing XI but the seam-favouring conditions in England would entice the captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid to take a look at Shardul Thakur. Thakur too is someone who can provide support with the bat in hand. The right-arm fast bowler has three half-centuries to his name in eight matches including one against Australia in the historic test at the Gabba. He even scored two fifties against England in England at The Oval.
Shardul Thakur’s hard-hitting batting abilities make him a great fast-bowling all-rounder. If Thakur can impress Dravid and Rohit with his bowling then it could lead to India picking both Ashwin and Thakur.
India Squad for WTC Final
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat
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