WTC Final: “You Would Want Two Spinners”- Ravi Shastri on Team India’s Combination

Team India will face Australia in the much-awaited World Test Championship Final. Former Indian Coach Ravi Shastri reckons that the Indian Team might go with two spinners in their lineup for the WTC final if the conditions suit them.

Ravi Shastri who was with Team India during the WTC 2021 final as the head coach, believes that the team did well in England because they had Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj. Three quality pacers along with a pace-bowling all-rounder helped the team’s cause.

Team India have got all bases covered for the WTC Final: Ravi Shastri

“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. If you think the guys are older, they are not as quick as they used to be, and the form is a little doubtful, then you play that second spinner because Ashwin is quality, as is Jadeja,” Ravi Shastri said in ICC Review.

“If the track is hard and dry, you would want two spinners to play for sure. I think it goes a lot with the weather in England. I believe it’s sunny now at the moment, but you know, English weather, how it can change in the month of June,” the former Indian coach said on Team India’s bowling combination.

The Indian Team will take on Australia in the final of the World Test Championship between June 7-11. WTC Final will be played at the Oval in London as Team India will fight for the coveted title for the second successive time after losing the final against New Zealand in the year 2021.

The Men in Blue have three spin options in their 15-member squad with experienced Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja joined by the in-form Axar Patel. Hence, the team have the option to play two spinners if the conditions at the Oval suit them.

Team India might select Ashwin as the specialist spinner and use Ravindra Jadeja to bat at No 6 as he has a good record with the bat in the English conditions. Team India also have the option to choose Shardul Thakur if they want a pace-bowling all-rounder in the playing XI.