WTC Final: We are left with just two weeks for one of the most-awaited matches of the year, the World Test Championship Final 2023. After two months of Indian Premier League (IPL) action, Indian players will travel to England for the 2023 ICC WTC Finals clash against Australia.
India and Australia will be playing in a Test match at a neutral venue for the very first time in the history of Test Cricket. India and Australia have met 106 times in Test Matches in the past. Australia have won 44 times, compared to India’s 32 victories. In contrast, Australia have won six times and India have won eight times in the last ten years.
Both teams have officially declared their squads for the 2023 WTC Final. India picked a 15-men squad, and these players will make up the final playing 11. Australia have chosen 17 players for the main event, but only 15 of them will go to England.
Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer are some top players missing from the team. India will definitely miss the services of Rishabh Pant most importantly as he provides strong stability and an attacking mindset in batting and world-class wicketkeeping for the team.
India have named their 15-member squad for the event and this post will cover India’s Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for World Test Championship Final 2021-23.
Team India Squad for WTC Final 2023
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat, Ishan Kishan, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat
Standby players: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Mukesh Kumar.
India’s Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for WTC Final
Batting
1- Rohit Sharma
In the batting department, the skipper will be expected to take charge and oppose a deadly Australian new-ball attack that includes veterans like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. When India last toured England in 2021–2022, Rohit had a successful trip, amassing 368 runs in 4 Test matches at an average of 52.57.
2- Shubman Gill
In recent times, Shubman Gill has been an exceptional find for India, especially in red-ball cricket. Gill sealed the opening berth in the WTC final with a brilliant century in the fourth test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Although still in the early stages of his Test career, Gill has already demonstrated a great deal of potential by amassing 890 runs in 15 Tests, including two centuries. Though his current statistics in England show 57 runs in 2 Tests at 14.25, he will expect to improve upon them.
3- Cheteshwar Pujara
India’s batting lineup will be strengthened by Cheteshwar Pujara in the major matchup against the formidable Australians. His expertise and skills will be crucial if the team is to successfully lift the renowned WTC mace. He has played in 102 international Test matches over the course of more than 12 years, scoring 7154 runs in 174 innings, including 19 hundreds and 35 fifty-sixes.
4- Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is expected to put on another masterful performance against Australia in the WTC final, therefore this choice seemed a must for India. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli exploded back into form in Test cricket with a top-tier century during the Ahmedabad Test.
With 1979 runs in 24 Tests against Australia, including 8 tonnes, Kohli has an impressive record in Test cricket. In 16 games during the current World Test Championship cycle, Kohli has amassed 869 runs. His recent IPL form was on top of the tiers as well.
5- Ajinkya Rahane
The selectors trusted veteran Ajinkya Rahane to stabilise the team’s middle order as Shreyas Iyer won’t be available for the WTC final encounter. After almost 16 months, the veteran competitor could return to the international circuit. He is doing a fantastic job for his team, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in the current IPL. He led Mumbai in the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy and amassed 634 runs in 11 innings across seven games.
6- KS Bharat
In absence of Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat should wear the wicketkeeping gloves. Ishan Kishan is another option available there but technically and as per game awareness, KS Bharat is a better option in test cricket. Bharat has so far amassed 101 runs in six innings in four games, with his best total coming against Australia in Ahmedabad at 44. Although the 29-year-old is undoubtedly newly introduced to the international circuit, his extensive first-class cricket experience will enable him to perform at his very best in the high-stakes game.
7- Ravindra Jadega
In Test cricket, Ravindra Jadeja has developed into one of the top all-rounders, and he will be an assured selection for the Indian XI. Jadeja, who has established himself as a prominent member of India’s lineup, scored a Test century during India’s most recent tour to England. He, being the only left-handed batter in India’s top seven, will also be of extreme significance.
8- Ravi Ashwin
The magical Ravichandran Ashwin will be a definite choice of the captain and the team management. The WTC final will be played at the Ovals, so playing with two spinner might not sound well but Jadeja and Ashwin, both can be evenly contribute with bat as well. Ashwin has 5 test centuries and 13 half centuries with bat in hand while he becomes lethal with ball in his hand against the Aussies. In 22 Test matches against Australia, he has taken 114 wicket alone.
9- Mohammad Shami
In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Mohammad Shami will handle the new ball and lead the assault in the upcoming WTC Final. Shami is a seasoned member of the Indian team with a tonne of experience in England and has played in 13 Tests and taken 38 wickets. Shami has also performed admirably throughout this World Test Championship cycle, taking 41 wickets in 12 matches.
10- Umesh Yadav
Whenever there is a test match in England, put the name Umesh Yadav there and he will definitely deliver each and every time. Umesh Yadav will serve as the Indian pace attack’s centrepiece in the grand WTC final. With his skill set, the speedster is capable of deceiving the Australian batsmen. In 56 Test matches over the course of his 12-year career, he has taken 168 wickets, including his 10/133 career high.
11- Mohammad Siraj
Since making his debut in Australia, Siraj has developed tremendously and has established himself as a key component of the current Indian pace attack. With five Test matches and 18 wickets in England, he has a respectable resume there. He may end up being the most efficient bowler in the Indian team at The Oval as of his propensity for pitching the ball up and swinging it late.
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