'I’m Backing India to...': Gavaskar Makes Bold Prediction Ahead of WTC Final
Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins [Image- Twitter]
Legendary Indian opener-turned pundits Sunil Gavaskar has backed the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team to 'out-bat' Australia in the upcoming World Test Championship final.
India and Australia will lock horns at the Oval between June 07-12 in a bid to establish a new world Test champion after these two sides finished as the top-2 teams in the 2021-23 WTC cycle.
Both sides have announced their respective squads, with Team India recalling former vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane into the set-up.
The Oval is traditionally the best pitch to bat in England, and Gavaskar believes that the Indian team possesses the required depth to out-bat the Aussies, should they win the toss and bat first.
Speaking to Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar said:
I’m backing India to out-bat Australia because if you look at the Indian batting lineup, at number 8 we have (Ravichandran) Ashwin who has five Test hundreds and the Oval is generally a very good pitch to bat on. You win the toss, put up a big score on the first two days, then you don’t have to bat in the second innings,” as quoted by the Indian Express.
Gavaskar further added that the Indian Test players, whose franchise doesn't qualify for the IPL playoffs, should fly to the UK early in a bid to get acclimatized to the conditions.
“I know the IPL finishes on May 28, and the Test starts on June 7. I’d like to see those players from the teams who haven’t qualified to go to England a bit earlier, maybe even play against club sides. It will help them adjust to the conditions,” he added.
The IPL ends on May 28, while the WTC final is on June 07, and it will be interesting to see when the selected players will start their sojourn to the UK.
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