What Will Be India's Team For WTC Final?

image-lih8kvmnTeam India [Twitter]

The wait is almost over as the World Test Championship (WTC) final is set to commence from June 7 at the Kennington Oval.

Two of the best teams from the last WTC cycle - India and Australia have their eyes set on the coveted WTC mace, and will battle it out for supremacy in a riveting Test match.

The Indian side have reached London and have started to grind it out ahead of the mega event. However, the big question in everyone's mind is - What will be India's team for the WTC final?

Openers: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill

An easy choice, especially in the absence of KL Rahul. Gill has to open alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. The 23-year-old has been in sublime form in the last year and will be a key batter for India alongside Rohit, who did exceptionally well in the last series in England.

Moreover, he has a Test hundred at the Oval - where the WTC final will take place, and that will give him loads of confidence.

Middle-order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishan Kishan

Number 3 and 4 are sorted for Team India. Pujara has been terrific for Sussex in the County Championship and will hold the key in the WTC final. Kohli needs no introduction and will be India's trump card against a potent Aussie bowling attack.

Rahane makes his long-awaited return to the Test setup and in the absence of Shreyas Iyer will occupy the number 5 spot.

With Rishabh Pant out of the remainder of 2023 due to an accident, the keeper's role is a difficult one to pick. But Ishan Kishan just edges KS Bharat as he can be the like-to-like replacement for Pant in this lineup.


All-rounder: Ravindra Jadeja

Arguably the best all-rounder in Tests at the moment, Ravindra Jadeja has tremendously improved his batting skills and that was evident the last time he scored a Test hundred in England in 2022. With the ball he is a magician and is a key factor for India in the bowling department.

Bowlers: R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj

If the conditions remain dry, then India has to go with Ravichandran Ashwin instead of Shardul Thakur. Ashwin will have the psychological edge since the Aussie lineup has 4 left-handers in their top-7.

Indian bowlers have been plagued with injuries, and that opens the door for Umesh Yadav who form India's pace trio alongside Shami and Siraj.

In the absence of Bumrah due to an injury, Shami has the responsibility to lead India's pace attack. He is the most experienced pacer in the side and will need to take wickets at the top.

The last player to occupy the spot is Mohammed Siraj, who did well on his last full-fledged England tour. A vastly improved bowler, he'll open the attack alongside Shami.

India's predicted XI for WTC final

1) Rohit Sharma (c)

2) Shubman Gill

3) Cheteshwar Pujara

4) Virat Kohli

5) Ajinkya Rahane

6) Ishan Kishan (wk)

7) Ravindra Jadeja

8) Ravichandran Ashwin

9) Umesh Yadav

10) Mohammad Shami

11) Mohammed Siraj