WTC Final 2023: India Cricket Team has been handed two huge injury boosts. Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur will be available for India vs Australia WTC Final, starting June 7 at Kennington Oval. While Umesh is recovering from a hamstring strain, his condition is not serious. BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) medical team in collaboration with the Kolkata Knight Riders medical team is keeping a tab on the pacer. Shardul has regained fitness and will be available. However, BCCI is taking a wait-and-see approach for Jaydev Unadkat. If he misses out, a replacement can be named by May 23. Follow IND vs AUS World Test Championship Final LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
To note, Unadkat suffered a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of IPL 2023. However, with exactly a month to go for the WTC Final, there is still time. Hence, the selectors are not rushing to name a replacement for the left-arm seamer. BCCI is keeping a close tab on the two pacers. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) has been in touch with KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun, who was also India’s bowling coach till 2021 T20 World Cup. NCA will be closely monitoring the two pacers’ workload.
“Shardul and Umesh are two crucial players and as per our latest update, they are fine. Shardul is fit and fine. Umesh is recovering but should be fully fit in two weeks. Jaydev’s case is a little concerning at the moment. But we still have time. There is no need to rush and name a replacement now,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
WTC Final 2023: Who are the standbys?
However, in case Unadkat can’t make it in time for WTC Final, Mukesh Kumar is likely to be added to the main squad. Mukesh Kumar has been in terrific domestic form. Even in IPL 2023, he has bowled some fine spells for Delhi Capitals. With Jasprit Bumrah already ruled out, India need a quality pacer to fill in the void to partner Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Shardul Thakur is certain to play if he is fit.
That leaves one spot. If Umesh Yadav regains full fitness, he will make the Playing XI. But if he misses out, Team India need to make some tough calls based on conditions.
Even though conditions in London are expected to be dry, England tends to throw away cloudy and seam-friendly conditions without any prior notice. Hence, a call on the final combination will be made only close to match day.
Who will replace injured KL Rahul?
The biggest blow for Team India is the absence of KL Rahul in England. With Rishabh Pant out of the equation for a long time, the selectors and the team management were interested in handing over keeping duties to Rahul. That would have enabled India to add an extra batter or all-rounder like Axar Patel. But Rahul will undergo surgery and will miss 3-4 months of action.
Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan and KS Bharat are the options. Now that Rahul is ruled out, KS Bharat looks certain to make it to the Playing XI despite not setting the stage alight with the willow. With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening, KS Bharat is set to don the big gloves.
“It is certainly a big blow for us. KL had a proven track record in England and he is going to be a big miss. But it is also an opportunity for someone to step up. We have Ishan and Bharat as two keepers. Now, it is up to the team management to take a call on who will play,” the BCCI official said.
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Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav besides Sarfaraz Khan will be standbys. Selectors have also kept Ruturaj Gaikwad among the standbys besides Mayank Agarwal as backup opener. Ajinkya Rahane has returned to the squad and could be a contender with Rahul injured but it remains to be seen at whose expense he makes it to the Playing XI.
India’s Test squad WTC final:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
Standbys: Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini
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