Former head coach Ravi Shastri feels that Team India should play to their strength and include both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the XI against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final beginning at The Oval on June 7.
Picking his XI for the WTC Final, Shastri felt the void left by pacer Jasprit Bumrah will hurt India’s chances and they should counter it by picking another quality spinner.
For Shastri, it’s important to pick players according to the conditions and current form. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav are a couple of years older and might be a few yards slower compared to how they were in 2021, when India had beaten England at the Lord’s and The Oval Tests.
“You have got horses for courses. You’ve got all bases covered. But then, if the quality is not good in your fast-bowling attack and if you think the guys are older and not as quick as they used to be, and their form is a little doubtful, then you play that second spinner because Ashwin is quality. As is Jadeja,” Shastri said in ICC Review.
Fresh from playing in the IPL, fitness would be a big concern for the pacers as will be the fickle English weather, Shastri, the former India headcoach, feels.
India have three spin options in their squad, with Ashwin and No.1 ranked all-rounder Jadeja joined by Axar Patel. Left-armer Axarcould be Jadeja’s like-for-like replacement if need be.
Shastri thinks India have the option to select Ashwinas the only specialist spinner and use Jadeja to bat at No. 6 should the pitch at The Oval look to offer some turn during the latter stages.
