India will be facing Australia in the World Test Championship Final next month. The final of the 2021-23 cycle is scheduled to start on June 7 at the Oval Stadium in London. This match between the two top teams promises to be an intriguing encounter.
The Indian team will be traveling to England amid the ongoing IPL 2023 season. It is reported that players whose IPL teams won’t participate in the playoffs will fly to London earlier than the others.
For India, this match holds great significance as they have not won an ICC trophy since 2013. It will be a pivotal match for them. As the Indian team prepares to take on Australia, let’s take a look at how Rohit Sharma and his troops are preparing for this one-off final.
India will gain confidence from their recent success in the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where they won the series 2-1. They took a 2-0 lead in the first two tests, and although Australia narrowed the deficit, Team India held on for a series victory. This success will provide them with confidence as they prepare for the World Test Championship Final. However, the conditions in England will be different, and India’s challenge will be to adapt and perform well in English conditions.
India also has the experience of playing in the previous edition of the WTC Final, where they lost to New Zealand. This prior experience can act as a blessing in disguise and help them prepare better this time.
One key player for India will be Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been focusing on County Cricket in England during the IPL break. Pujara has been in excellent form, scoring 545 runs in just five matches at an average of 77.86, including three centuries. His rich vein of form will be crucial for India in the final against the Australian bowling attack.
Injuries are a significant concern for Team India. Players like Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah were already ruled out with injuries before the squad selection for the WTC Final. Shreyas Iyer’s back issue has also ruled him out, and KL Rahul injured his thigh during the IPL and underwent surgery, making him unavailable as well. Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat, who are included in the squad, are also doubtful for the final. With several players injured, India will have to rely on the remaining squad members, including players like KS Bharat or Ishan Kishan, who have no prior experience of playing in English conditions.
The performance of India’s top players will be crucial in the final. Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and others will need to play sensibly and contribute with the bat. The bowling department, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj, will have to strategize well to extract maximum advantage from the pitch.
Despite the injuries, Team India still has positive aspects to build upon. They have shown superiority over Australia in recent years, which can boost their morale. However, India’s past record in England raises some concerns, but their recent success in bilateral series in the country can provide them with confidence.
Overall, India will need to perform exceptionally well as a collective unit to overcome Australia and bring home an ICC trophy.
