Former Indian speedster Ashish Nehra talked about the potential bowling combination Team India should go ahead within the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
Team India is set to play ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand between 18-22th June at Rose Bowl in Southampton.
With conditions favouring seamers in England, the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma, who were immensely successful the last time India toured the UK, would be vital for Virat Kohli-led side.
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However with less than one month remaining for the WTC final, former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra while admitting that both India and New Zealand possess a strong bowling unit said that trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma will have an edge over Kiwi pacers.
“Of course, both India and New Zealand have very good fast bowlers. But if you look at our bowlers, (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed) Shami, they can bowl well even on flatter decks.
“Not just Bumrah and Shami but even Ishant (Sharma) is there. And looking at what he has achieved having played 100 Test matches, his presence is another strong point for India," Ashish Nehra told Telegraph.
Nehra pointed out that on a green top Team India should go with an extra pacer in Mohammed Siraj. He added that the first-choice bowling attack should be of Ishant, Bumrah and Shami along with spinner R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
"If you come across a green top, then you certainly can think of including an extra pacer, which I feel should be Mohammed Siraj given how well he has been bowling.
“But otherwise, I think the bowling attack should be Ishant, Bumrah and Shami as the three fast bowlers, with (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja as the spinners," he said.
Nehra pointed out that how pacers perform in practice sessions would also be taken into account before the playing XI is announced.
"Of course, there's still almost a month left for the final and how each of the quicks fares in practice sessions, as well as their fitness levels, would also be taken into account before the XI is announced," he said.
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Ashish Nehra further remarked that the reason behind choosing Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin is that both players can contribute with the bat as well and the team will have all the bases covered.
"But the advantage of playing with this attack is that Ashwin and Jadeja can contribute with the bat too, and runs scored by the lower order turn out to be priceless. If Jadeja and Ashwin are in the XI, the team will have all bases covered in terms of bowling,” he concluded.
Apart from the WTC final, Team India will lock horns against England in the five-Test series starting 4th August. The Virat Kohli-led side is currently in Mumbai for their two-week hard quarantine ahead of their UK tour.
(The Telegraph inputs)
