R Ashwin Or Shardul Thakur, Who Should India Prefer For WTC Final?
Ravichandran Ashwin has been a match-winner for IND in Tests [Source: Twitter]
The World Test Championship final will see India and Australia battle it out for the silverware at the iconic Kennington Oval in London. With both teams comprising some outright match-winners, the game, scheduled on June 7, promises to be an absolute blockbuster.
Talking about India, the Rohit Sharma-led outfit has a few areas of concern with regard to their playing combination. While the absence of Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah will likely affect team India, it will certainly be tough to choose one between Shardul Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin for the number eight position.
So, who should India prefer for the WTC final? Let's consider some factors to derive a conclusion.
Overall impact as bowler
If we are talking about Test cricket, there is absolutely no comparison between Ravichandran Ashwin and Shardul Thakur. Ashwin has been a game-changer for India with the ball, while Thakur has blown hot and cold in his brief Test career. So, if India decide to go with experience, Ashwin will be the clear winner.
Oval's spin-friendly wicket and a LHB-heavy Australian batting unit
Australia have four left-handed batters in their top seven, a factor that might prompt India to include Ashwin in their playing XI. Also, as we have seen over the years, the surface at the Oval tends to offer significant assistance to the spinners, especially on the last two days. So, if the game goes beyond the fourth day with India bowling on day 5, Ashwin might emerge as a valuable asset for them.
Control factor
Shardul Thakur's control has often been questioned [Source: Twitter]
As India don't have Jasprit Bumrah, they need someone to bowl at tight lines, preventing the Australian batters from scoring briskly.
Despite being experienced, Umesh Yadav could be wayward at times. So, India should refrain from selecting Shardul Thakur, who has a reputation for being erratic.
His economy of 3.99 in England tells a lot about the unpredictability factor Thakur brings to the table. On the other hand, Ashwin has conceded just over two and a half in England, so he can hold one end in case the Indian bowlers toil hard to find a breakthrough.
Batting depth
Although everyone remembers Thakur for his onslaught in Brisbane, the Mumbai player's batting average in Tests reads only 19.54, much lower than Ashwin's career average of 26.97. While Thakur is more of an aggressor, Ashwin can hang around and bat long, if needed.
The verdict
Although the final call should be taken only after inspecting the pitch, we reckon Ashwin should get the nod ahead of Thakur, considering his all-round impact and better control with the ball. Nevertheless, we shouldn't be surprised if a tinge of green on the surface makes India draft in Thakur to their playing XI for the ultimate face-off.
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