The cricketing world’s attention turned towards the iconic Oval in London today as India and Australia locked horns in the highly anticipated final of the World Test Championship (2021-2023). The tension was palpable as Australian captain Pat Cummins flipped the coin, but it was Indian skipper Rohit Sharma who emerged victorious, winning the toss and opting to bowl first due to the seaming conditions at the renowned venue.
4 seamers included
Leading up to the match, speculations had been rife regarding India’s team composition, particularly whether they would go with two spinners and three seamers or four seamers and just 1 spinner. However, Rohit Sharma put an end to all conjectures as he disclosed the team’s decision during the toss. India would take the field with a formidable lineup of four seamers, including Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav, along with the talented spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Regrettably, this meant the exclusion of the seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin, a difficult choice that had to be made considering the prevailing conditions.
“We are going to bowl. Jjust the conditions and also the weather being overcast. I don’t think the pitch will change too much. You have to play good cricket and come out on top. Four seamers and one spinner. The spinner is Jadeja. It’s always tough (to leave Ashwin), he’s been a match-winner for us over the course of so many years. But you got to do the things that’s needed for the team and eventually we came up with that decision.”, skipper Rohit said after winning the toss.
The weather forecasts had indicated a pitch that would be more conducive to seam bowling rather than spin. With this knowledge in mind, the Indian team strategically opted to bolster their pace attack by fielding an additional pacer in Shardul Thakur. Notably, Thakur’s inclusion was not solely for his bowling prowess, but also due to his commendable skills as a lower-order batsman. His ability to contribute with the bat adds depth and resilience to India’s batting lineup.
Rohit backs Rahane
The decision to bowl first reflects the team’s confidence in their fast bowlers’ ability to exploit the seaming conditions and make early inroads into the formidable Australian batting lineup. By putting Australia on the back foot early in the match, India aims to gain a significant advantage in their quest for glory in the ultimate clash of this prestigious tournament.
Additionally, the Indian team announced the comeback of Ajinkya Rahane, who has been included in the playing XI for the final. Rahane, known for his resilience and excellent batting skills, has been a pillar of strength for the Indian team in the longest format of the game. Captain Rohit Sharma showed faith in Rahane’s abilities, considering his experience and ability to perform under pressure.
“He (Rahane) brings a lot of experience, he’s played 80-odd Test matches and he’s done well for the team. He’s been out for a while but I don’t think the experience that he has can change all of that.”, Rohit further added
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