WTC Final 2023: Hardik Pandya in race for IND vs AUS Oval clash? Ishan Kishan & SKY to also BATTLE it out with Injured KL Rahul

WTC Final 2023 – IND vs AUS: In accordance with the recommendation of medical team, India’s top-order wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has withdrawn from the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL 2023) and the impending World Test Championship Final 2023 (WTC) against Australia. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper will undergo thigh surgery soon and will be aiming to make a return in Team India squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Sarfaraz Khan, SuryaKumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and shockingly Hardik Pandya could be in the race to replace injured KL Rahul in the India WTC Final Squad.

Due to the injury he suffered earlier this week during an IPL 2023 encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore, KL is sidelined indefinitely. The World Test Championship Final will start on June 7 at the Oval in London.

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WTC Final 2023: The combinations for India WTC Squad

KS Bharat of Andhra Pradesh is the only designated wicketkeeper-batter still in the team with Rahul out.
After surviving a vehicle accident last year, Rishabh Pant, who participated in the first WTC final that India lost to New Zealand in 2021, has already been ruled out.
India will probably go with the same opening combination as they used in the latter stages of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 i.e Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma.
With Rahul injured, India will need to choose a middle-order player who can also act as a back-up keeper to Bharat.

India WTC Final 2023 Squad: The Contenders

Sarfaraz Khan: Delhi Capitals batter Sarfaraz Khan might stand in as a like-to-like replacement for KL Rahul. With a streak of impressive performances in the Indian domestic season, Sarfaraz has been pounding on the doors of the Indian team. In the most recent Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, he hit three centuries. If not directly in the squad, it is for sure that Khan will be in the reserves for India vs Australia squad.
Ishan Kishan: Due to his comparable technique of hitting the ball and ability to keep a healthy strike rate, especially on a flat surface like the one anticipated at the Oval, Ishan Kishan seems to be the most viable substitute for Rahul. With red-ball cricket experience dating back to 2014 and exposure to flat surfaces, Kishan has a wealth of first-class cricket experience. The left-handed batter has amassed 2985 runs in 48 first-class games with an amazing strike rate of 68.90 and an average of 38.76. Kishan has not yet played in a test match for the national team, but the fact that he was selected for the Australia series suggests that he has a lot of potential.
SuryaKumar Yadav: Although he has only appeared in one game in white for India, Suryakumar Yadav, who made his Test debut for that nation in the BGT, is also a viable replacement option. It will be fascinating to see if India names a replacement or keeps Bharat at No. 6 in the rankings.

Hardik Pandya: Is He a Choice?

Given the pacer-friendly conditions in England, another option that Rohit Sharma and company may choose to pursue is the inclusion of pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the starting XI.

India might have to bat with two pacers if Bharat keeps his spot and Hardik enters the playing 11 somehow. Hardik Pandya will serve as the team’s third pacer. Only Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, the two pacers India selected for the WTC Final versus Australia, are currently healthy and certain to start.

Shardul Thakur is not bowling frequently, while Umesh Yadav is apparently recovering from a hamstring ailment.

While, injuring his bowling shoulder at the LSG nets, left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat is attempting to recover in time for the WTC final.

India Squad WTC Final

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

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