Shastri made an intriguing choice before the final. Taking into account players from both the current WTC crews of India and Australia, he picked the best XI.
IPL 2023 is drawing to a close. The games in the league are over. Additionally, the playoffs begin on Tuesday in Chennai.
However, the discussion regarding the next big thing in international cricket has already begun. In another fortnight.
The World Test Title (WTC) last will start off at The Oval in London where India will hold back nothing ever ICC prize in 10 years when they go facing Australia.
Ravi Shastri, a former coach for India, made an intriguing selection in advance of the summit match.
He selected the best team, taking into account players from both India’s and Australia’s current WTC squads. However, he neglected Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Shastri named his best XI for the WTC Final in an interview with the International Cricket Council (ICC). He chose only four players from India and seven from Australia.
Rohit Sharma was selected without hesitation as the captain and the first opener. He did admit that he would have chosen Steve Smith over Rohit had Steve Smith been the skipper.
Shastri declared, “I would give the captaincy to Rohit because he is much more experienced than Pat.” He has been around for a long time and has captained sides.
It might be a different story if Steve Smith was captain of Australia, but since Pat Cummins and Rohit Sharma are competing, Rohit wins.
Besides, you know, as a chief, you’re a sureness in the XI so he opens the batting.”
The former India all-rounder struggled to choose between Usman Khawaja and Gill, but he ultimately chose the left-hander, who has been the second-highest run-getter in the current WTC cycle behind Joe Root.
Usman Khawaja and Shubman Gill are in a close race, Shastri acknowledged.”Usman Khawaja, just by current structure and the number of runs he has over the most recent few years,
Shastri had an easy time picking the next three, with Marnus Labuschagne, the highest-ranked Test batsman, at No. 3, Virat Kohli, Smith, and Pujara at No. 4.
Shastri added simply two spinners to the bowling line-up. One of them was Ravindra Jadeja because he was better all around than Cameron Green. Nathan Lyon, who was chosen in place of Ravichandran Ashwin, was the other.
Shastri elaborated, “Nathan’s overseas record was the reason I picked Nathan Lyon over Ashwin.” In Australia, however outside Australia and (Lyon is) likely more grounded to bowl those overs in Britain if necessary.”
Mohammed Shami, Mitchell Starc, and Cummins made up the pace group, and Alex Carry was chosen to be the goalkeeper.