Team India are due to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval from June 7-11.
Questions have been raised over India’s preparation for the WTC final as most of the players featured in the just-concluded IPL season.
Notably, India have 13 players in their WTC final squad who took part in IPL 2023 whereas Australia have only four.
Speaking on the same line, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar said coming out from the T20 mode will be the biggest challenge for the Indian players when they take on Australia in the WTC final next week.
“The biggest test will be the fact that just about everybody will be coming out of a T20 format, and Test cricket is a longer format. So, I think that’s going to be the big challenge,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports on Tuesday (May 30).
“They (India) have only Cheteshwar Pujara who has been playing in the English County Championship, so he will be the only guy who has played the longer format in these conditions, so that’s going to be the big challenge for them,” he added.
Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has been a notable inclusion in India’s WTC final squad. Rahane was recalled to the Test side as Shreyas Iyer’s back injury opened a middle-order slot.
The right-hander was dropped from the Test team in 2022 but he had a decent Ranji Trophy 2022-23 season, amassing 634 runs from seven games at an average of 57.63 while leading Mumbai.
According to Gavaskar, Rahane’s experience of English conditions will be beneficial to the side.
“He’s got a lot of experience having played in England, having scored runs in England. So, yes, I think he is going to be crucial down at number 5. And yes, I do believe he has a point to prove, I still feel he has got plenty of cricket left in him, and this is a wonderful opportunity for him.”
Gavaskar hoped that Ajinkya Rahane will make the most of this opportunity to extend his professional career.
“I’m hoping he will be able to grab this opportunity with all the experience that he has and make a place for him back in the Indian team.”
