Team India is on its way to play the first-ever ICC world Test championship final. Virat Kohli and his men will clash again a strong New Zealand side in the final. The match will be played most probably at Southampton between June 18-22.
Team India topped the world Test championship table after they defeated England in the final Test match at Ahmedabad and punched their ticket for the historic final. Now with the final taking place in England, team India will play the playing XI which is best suited for the conditions. In this feature, we look ahead at the possible playing XI of team India for the ICC world Test championship final.
Team India’s Predicted XI For The World Test Championship Final
1. Rohit Sharma
The elegant Indian opener has the best batting average for any Indian batsman in the world Test championship. Come to the final against New Zealand, team India will be hoping that Rohit Sharma is at his best. This will certainly not be easy as he will be playing a quality New Zealand attack consisting of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and the rest.
However, in the last 2 years, Rohit has shown that he is ready to do the hard grind in Test cricket and score runs when the ball becomes old. The star Indian opener will be a key wicket for NZ when they face India in the final.
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2. Shubman Gill
The talented Shubman Gill is expected to be Rohit’s opening partner in the playing XI for the final. Gill started his Test career with a bang in Australia but wasn’t able to continue his form against England.
Nevertheless, in his short career, Gill has showcased that he is a big match player and likes scoring runs under pressure away from home. The combination of Gill and Rohit will be crucial for team India if they have to do well in the big final.
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
The rock of India’s test batting Cheteshwar Pujara will be playing in his very first ICC final. Over the years Pujara has scored important runs for India away from home which he will again be aiming to do in the final against NZ. Pujara had an inconsistent Test series against England but looked in complete control against the pacers which is a big positive for team India.
4. Virat Kohli
The Indian captain Virat Kohli will bat at number 4 in the big final against NZ. We all know that Kohli since 2020 hasn’t been at his best in Test cricket and only averages 26. However, the ICC world Test championship final may just be the stage that Kohli needs to score yet another Test century.
New Zealand will look to target Kohli early on in his innings as he is the most vulnerable in his first 15 deliveries. If Kohli can survive that crucial period then expect him to dominate NZ and lead the charge with the bat for his side in the final.
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5. Ajinkya Rahane
The Indian vice-captain too will be extremely crucial for India in the final. Rahane averages 43 in the ICC Test championship which proves that he has always scored valuable runs for his side.
He may not have been consistent but come the crucial time in a Test, Rahane has always put his hand up and taken his team ahead in the match. Rahane will be a massive wicket for New Zealand as once he gets set he has the game to score freely all around the ground against any bowling attack.
6. Rishabh Pant
The match-winner of team India Rishabh Pant has taken his game to just another level in Test cricket. He was India’s stand-out batsman in Australia and then continued his remarkable form against England at home. Pant has already proved after his Brisbane heroics that he is a big match player and loves to bat on the biggest of stages and take his team beyond the finish line.
7. Hanuma Vihari
The middle-order batter will go down in the history for his fighting knock in the third Test against Australia alongside Ravichandran Ashwin to save a Test match. It ultimately led to Kohli & Co defend the Border-Gavaskar Test series.
Since then, he has been out of international cricket; however, made a return to County cricket. Although he has blown hot and cold so far in his outings, Vihari’s experience of playing these conditions will come in handy for India.
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8. Ravindra Jadeja
The headache for team India will be to choose their bowling combination for the final. India is likely to play with three seamers considering Hardik Pandya is yet to restart bowling and thus, was not considered in the playing XI. The management will definitely include Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI as he has a fine record in England. Also, considering his ability to contribute to all departments makes him a valuable addition to the playing XI.
Whether it be a white ball or red ball Jadeja has always emerged as a match-winner in England conditions which is why he will be a significant player for team India in the final.
9. Ishant Sharma
The tall and lanky fast bowler from Delhi has grown leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. Ishant Sharma has been a perfect foil to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. He has chipped in with wickets and broke partnerships whenever skipper Virat Kohli has handed him over the ball.
Ishant has a remarkable record in English conditions and the team will look forward to him delivering the goods for his side as India aim to win the first-ever ICC World Test Championship trophy.
10. Jasprit Bumrah
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is suspected to be the leader of India’s pace attack in the final. The right-arm quick was brilliant in his first Test series in England from which he will get a lot of confidence in the final. Bumrah is a wicket-taker who can test the technique of any batsman in seaming conditions of England.
The fast bowler from Gujarat returns to the side after missing the most part of the series against England. Bumrah took a break citing personal reasons where he got married to sports presenter Sanjan Ganesan. Team India will be hoping that Bumrah bowls a magical spell in the final and helps India lift the first-ever ICC World Test championship title.
11. Mohammed Shami
If there’s any Indian fast bowler who can use the swing and seam conditions to full effect it’s Mohammed Shami. The biggest quality of Shami is his ability to adapt quickly to the conditions and bowl attacking lengths. New Zealand will surely have a game plan to bat against Shami as he is a strike force who picks wickets at regular intervals in Test cricket.
He is coming back to the national side from the back of an injury and will hope to deliver the goods. The conditions in England will also help Shami in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
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