India should play both Ashwin and Jadeja in WTC final: Ravi Shastri | cricket news
Shastri’s views stem from his belief that the spin duo can make a significant contribution to a team’s performance in a match.
While Shastri acknowledges the success of India’s pace attack including jasprit bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Shardul Thakur, in the Test match victory at The Oval in 2021. He also highlighted the importance of a balanced playing XI that utilizes the strengths of the available players. Also, Shastri mentions Rohit Sharmacentury, which played a vital role in that particular victory.
Picking his XI for the marquee WTC final, Shastri felt that the void left by Bumrah would hurt India’s chances and he should counter it by picking another spinner to make up for the lack of pacers.
“India did very well in England last time because you had Bumrah, you had Shami, you had Shardul Thakur and you had Mohammed Siraj,” Shastri said in the ICC review.
“So you had four fast bowlers. One being an all-rounder there, Shardul.
“This combination is a very good combination in England. Especially from India’s point of view. It allows someone like Rohit Sharma to control the game better. In England there are times you need to take it slow .. and suddenly it can get worse.” Overcast,” he explained.
For Shastri, it is important to pick players according to the conditions and current form. Mohammed Shami And Umesh Yadav is a few years older and may be a few yards slower than in 2021.
“You have the horses for the course, you have all the bases covered. But then if the quality is not good in your fast bowling attack. If you think the guys are old, they are not as fast as they used to be. ” And form is a bit doubtful, so you play that second spinner because Ashwin is quality, as is Jadeja.
Shastri feels that fresh from playing in the IPL, fitness will be a major concern for the fast bowlers given the inclement weather in England.
India have three spin options in their team, with veteran Ashwin and No. 1-ranked all-rounder Jadeja included in Axar Patel’s 15-player squad, who can fill in their kind if needed.
Shastri feels India have the option of picking Ashwin as the lone specialist spinner and use Jadeja to bat at No.6 should the pitch at The Oval look like it will offer some turn during the latter stages.
Shastri said, ‘If the pitch is hard and dry, you would want to play two spinners.’
“I think it gets a lot to do with the weather in England. I believe it’s sunny at the moment, but you know, English weather, how it can change in the month of June.
“So there is a very good possibility of India going in with two spinners, two fast bowlers and one all-rounder. That would be the combination. And then five batsmen and wicketkeeper, then six batsmen,” he added.
“So if all conditions remain normal at the Oval, that would be my combination, but you have the quality to be able to hit those guys out on the park.”
as far as batting is concerned Shubman Gill In the absence of injured KL Rahul, he will become the automatic choice for skipper Rohit Sharma at the top.
Cheteshwar Pujara And Virat Kohli will walk into No. 3 and No. 4 respectively, while the door has opened for Ajinkya Rahane to return to the No. 5 spot.
Buoyed by Rahane’s return, Shastri said the 34-year-old has booked his place in the WTC final.
“The way he (Rahane) times the ball, the way he is looking at T20 from a different perspective. He is not looking at the number of runs, he is looking at how many balls he is playing. What is the strike rate? The number of balls he has played, which are good and which are good, Shastri said about Rahane.
“It just goes to show (what happens) when you go through the grind, you go back to domestic cricket. They’ve made their way into that World Test Championship. Now you’ve got to get closer to the event,” he added. Will have to see what the playing XI is.” Will happen.”
Shastri stressed the need for batting focus, citing the mindset of the 2021 touring party.
“Application is key in England conditions, unlike Australia, India, you need to apply yourself everywhere,” he said.
“That opening partnership between Rahul and Rohit Sharma was fantastic. You know, the discipline, the patience that is needed to counter English conditions is the need of the hour.”
“In England, in particular, the game of leaving becomes very important.”
Shastri has opted for keeper-batsman Kona Bharat over batsman-keeper in his playing XI choice Ishan Kishan,
For Australia, Shastri felt it was a no-brainer.
“They will go with one spinner (Nathan Lyon), all-rounder Cameron Green (and) three fast bowlers (Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood),” Shastri said.
Shastri India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj
(With PTI inputs)
