India Playing XI – ICC WTC Final: Four days ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final against New Zealand in Southampton, Virat Kohli & Coach Ravi Shastri has almost settled their bowling combination. The talks about India playing 4 pacers in Southampton can be put to rest. InsideSport has learnt that instead team India will play 3 pacers & 2 spin bowler combination against New Zealand. Though the team management agree that pitch and the English conditions will suit seamers more, India wants to play on their strength and will draft 2 spinners in form of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the XI.
As for pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will become an automatic choice in English conditions with Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur fighting for the third pacer slot. The pitch will also have something for both pacers and spinners. The pitch curator for Ageas Bowl, Simon Lee told ESPNCricinfo that the pitch will have “pace, bounce and carry” on the first three days with spinners getting a bit of assistance in the last two.
India Playing XI – ICC WTC Final – Going with two spinners and three pacers:
However, playing a second spinner will not be such a bad idea if Virat Kohli takes a look at the last Test match that his team played at the venue against England. In 2018’s tour, England opted for two spinners in Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. The off-spinner returned with nine wickets from the match while Ashwin bagged three.
Considering the pitch would have some assistance for spinners on the last two days at least, team management feels playing two spinners would make a lot of sense. In that case, Ravindra Jadeja will come in besides Ravichandran Ashwin and the two will also deepen India’s batting strength.
India Playing XI – ICC WTC Final: Who will be third pacer in 3+2 combination?
In English conditions, the variations Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami could produce, make them an automatic choice and integral part of India’s bowling combination. But the question remains for the 3rd pacer slot with Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur competing for that position.
While having Ishant Sharma is a must in Australia for his height and the bounce he generates, in England, Virat Kohli may opt for a little more variety and bring in Mohammed Siraj. The Hyderabadi pacer has done wonders in the last few months. He has troubled England batsmen on lifeless Indian pitches while bowling match-winning figures in Australia. In Shardul Thakur, Kohli will get a bowler who can swing but also a batsman who can play the role of a night watchman.
However, the fact that Ishant Sharma has a lot of experience in bowling in England and that he was the last tour’s top wicket-taker 18 scalps could get him the nod. The lanky pacer could come in as a third pacer.
India Playing XI – ICC WTC Final: Should Virat Kohli opt for 4+1 – four seamers and a spinner?
But Virat Kohli & Ravi Shastri could change the 3+2 combination at the final moment depending on the weather conditions. There is a forecast of light showers and that could prompt Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri to go with four pacers and a spinner. The Southampton pitch is likely to assist seamers in the first three days and has some turns on the last two days as per the curator. Furthermore, of late Ageas Bowl pitch has helped seamers with all wickets going to seamers in the last County Championship match.
In that case, with Ravichandran Ashwin being the sole spinner, India could go with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma as the pace bowling options.