India Squad WTC Final: Ajinkya Rahane is all set to make a comeback to India Cricket Team after a long 18-month absence. Dropped from BCCI Central contract and Test team, the former vice-captain has been asked to begin practice with red-ball. With Shreyas Iyer out injured and Hanuma Vihari & Suryakumar Yadav out of form, selectors want Rahane to be ready as a backup for WTC Final 2023 against Australia in Oval. During IPL 2023, Rahane and others will have regular red-ball practice as per PTI. Follow India vs Australia World Test Championship Final LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Shreyas Iyer is undergoing surgery for his lower back injury and is all set to miss the WTC Final. To make things worse, Suryakumar Yadav has returned four golden ducks in his last six innings and all his form has gone up in smokes. He was also not convincing in his only Test innings against Australia.
Ajinkya Rahane, for his part, has done well in the red-ball season and has been among runs in IPL 2023. With Rahane being the only experienced player with runs under his belt in England, he has emerged as a strong contender for the middle-order spot.
Rahane slammed 634 runs in 7 matches at an excellent average of 57.63 in Ranji Trophy. He also had a double century, a hundred and two fifties for Mumbai in those 7 games. While one would have ended his hopes of playing for India again, the injury crisis has given him a second chance. He has also recently admitted his desire to wear the Blue cap again.
“Still, a long way to go WTC final. Today, I was not sure about my place in the eleven and got to know just before the toss. For me, it is about playing one game at a time and staying in the moment. Anything can happen. I will never give up. For me it is about playing with enjoyment and passion,” Ajinkya Rahane said after smashing a half-century on Chennai Super Kings debut.
Rahane will leave for England after the completion of IPL 2023 and will play for Leicestershire County Cricket Team. However, his arrival in County could be delayed if he is picked for the WTC Final which is very likely at the moment.
However, selection in the squad alone doesn’t guarantee a spot in the Playing XI. Shubman Gill is set to take the No 5 spot in the middle-order with KL Rahul set to retain his spot on the basis of an excellent run in England.
“Yes, Surya’s form a concern. But he has time to pull through. If he manages to come out on top, he still has a place. Both Shubman and KL are important members of the Test team and barring any injuries should pick themselves automatically,” the official told InsideSport.
The squad selection meeting will take place at the end of April with the submission date set on May 7, a month before the WTC Final. However, both India and Australia will have time till May 22 to make changes to the squad.
India Squad WTC Final 2023: All you need to know
- Most of India’s squad will remain the same as the Australia Test series.
- However, with Shreyas Iyer injured, India have a spot to fill.
- KL Rahul is set to open with Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill getting a middle-order slot in England.
- However, India need a backup opener as well as a backup middle-order batter.
- Mayank Agarwal is likely to get a recall as the backup opener while Ajinkya Rahane is also in the fray for a middle-order slot.
- As for the keeper’s slot, KS Bharat will don the big gloves even though he has struggled against Australia.
- Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammad Shami besides Shardul Thakur will be India’s four-prong pace attack.
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