India will be playing the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand from June 18-22 with 23rd being the reserve day. The match will be played in Rose Bowl, Southampton, in Hampshire.
The match was originally supposed to be played at the Lord’s cricket ground in London but was shifted to Southampton due to the COVID-19 situation as the ground has boarding facilities for both teams in a safe secure bubble.
India had to beat Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series in Australia and then defeat England 3-1 in the four-Test series at home to qualify for the WTC final, while New Zealand was the first to qualify without playing a Test outside their country.
BCCI announces Team India squad for WTC final; England Test series
Keeping this in mind, Team COC presents the Predicted Team India playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final
While India has multiple options to open the innings in the WTC final, expect Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to do the duties in the crucial match. Rohit looked in good form against England, while Shubman Gill scored runs in Australia against Australia.
India has the choices of Mayank Agarwal, and KL Rahul, and if needed Hanuma Vihari to partner Rohit Sharma in the opening position. The openers will have the tough task of negotiating swing and seam bowling from the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, and Kyle Jamieson amongst others.
Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rishabh Pant are expected to be confirmed in the middle order. Pujara, Rahane, and Kohli were in sublime form in the last two Test series India played, while Rishabh Pant has reinvented himself as both a batsman and as a keeper, which is good news for the Indian team and its fans.
Another good news for India is that Ravindra Jadeja is back to peak fitness and the team management might play both Jadeja and R Ashwin, giving them two spin options on the Southampton wicket. Both can bat as well, giving the Indian team the security of a long batting lineup.
Indian players must consider their England tour over if they test COVID-19 positive- Reports
The fast bowling contingent might be a no-brainer with all the three first-choice fast bowlers fit and available.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Ishant Sharma are automatic choices in the Indian team playing XI, especially in England, where Bumrah, Shami, and Ishant did pretty well in 2018.
India may also opt for Mohammed Siraj in place of Ishant, given that Siraj has more pace and is a lot fitter than Ishant Sharma, and in better bowling form especially with his performances in Australia and against England.
This will be India’s first Test match at a neutral venue in their cricket history and they will want to mark the occasion with a win, becoming the first-ever ICC Test Champions.
COC Predicted India playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final vs New Zealand:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
