India Squad WTC Final: Time is running out for Suryakumar Yadav to retain his Test spot. With a massive slump in form, the dasher is in danger of missing out on a spot in the WTC Final 2023. While KL Rahul is set to keep his spot in the middle, India need a backup middle-order batter in absence of Shreyas Iyer. Even though SKY was the favourite, his slump in form and relative inexperience in playing Test in England could give Hanuma Vihari a new lifeline. But Ajinkya Rahane is not in the running. Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara is set to become the permanent vice-captain of the Test team. India vs Australia WTC Final is on June 7. Follow World Test Championship Final LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
In the last WTC Final, it was Jasprit Bumrah who was India’s vice-captain and eventually led India with Rohit Sharma missing out due to Covid-19. This time, with no Bumrah or Rishabh Pant around, Pujara will be the designated deputy. Pujara is currently preparing for WTC Final with a stint in County Championship for Sussex away from IPL 2023.
“Pujara will be the vice-captain for WTC Final and he will be Rohit’s deputy going forward,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Suryakumar Yadav has been out for 4 golden ducks in his last six innings. His highest score in those last 6 innings has been 15. After three ducks in the ODI series against Australia, SKY has extended his wretched run in IPL 2023 as well, scoring 15, 1 and 0 in three innings.
“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.
SKY’s poor run has brought Hanuma Vihari back into the fray even though he hasn’t really lit up the space with tons of runs. He managed 490 runs in 14 innings at 35.00 in Ranji Trophy. Ajinkya Rahane however has the scores to back his claims. He scored 634 runs in 11 innings at 57.64. The others in the fray would be Mayank Agarwal who top-scored in Ranji with 990 runs. Sarfaraz Khan is another but considering his struggle against express pace in seaming conditions, selectors want to give him more time.
“It’s selectors’ call on who they want to pick. People should remember that we can only send in 15 players with 2 reserve players. So, there won’t be many available spaces. Mayank and Sarfaraz have both done well. As for Ajinkya, it’s completely up to the selectors. The door is not closed to anybody,” the official said.
The squad selection meeting will take place 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 Hanuma Vihari 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.
Probable India Playing XI WTC Final:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- KL Rahul
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Virat Kohli
- Shubman Gill
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Srikar Bharat (WK)
- Shardul Thakur
- Mohammed Siraj
- Mohammed Shami
- Umesh Yadav
Probable India Squad WTC Final: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan (WK), Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav/ Hanuma Vihari, Shardul Thakur
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