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India needs to reflect before facing Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) match at The Oval. India will face a major dilemma as they must choose between veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and a fourth seamer. Even down in the order, Ashwin can help with the bat.
India will have to make a decision over their wicket keeper in addition to this selection dilemma. Ishan Kishan, who was later added to the team to fill in for KL Rahul, who was injured, has not played for India in the longest format. While KS Bharat kept the wickets as India won the Border-Gavaskar trophy at home.
Ashwin has only participated in one game at The Oval. He took 3 wickets in 21.3 overs during that game. Ashwin is currently ranked first among Test bowlers and second among all-rounders in the ICC rankings, trailing only his teammate Ravindra Jadeja.
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Bowling department
Due to his ability to provide the batting order with much-needed consistency, Ravindra Jadeja will be India’s first-choice spinner. In terms of pace, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are unquestionably starters. If Ashwin is playing, India might start Umesh Yadav; if not, they could start both Yadav and Shardul Thakur.
Although history and statistics suggest that Ashwin should be a simple choice for the starting XI, the seam-favouring circumstances in England would lead Rohit Sharma, the captain, and coach Rahul Dravid to consider Shardul Thakur. Thakur is another person who can offer assistance with a bat in hand. In eight games, including one against Australia in the historic test match at the Gabba, the right-arm fast bowler has three half-centuries to his credit. Even at The Oval in England, he scored twice against England.
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Shardul Thakur excels as a fast-bowling all-rounder thanks to his powerful batting skills. Thakur’s bowling ability may influence Dravid and Rohit to select both him and Ashwin for India.
India Squad for WTC Final
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat
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