Indian batting line-up failed to perform as a unit in their first innings of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 Final against Australia at The Oval.

In reply to Australia’s first innings total of 469, India’s first innings folded for 296. Barring Ajinkya Rahane (89), Shardul Thakur (51) and Ravindra Jadeja (48) to some extent, none of the other batters looked comfortable against the Aussie bowlers.

India’s top four, comprising Rohit Sharma (15), Shubman Gill (13), Cheteshwar Pujara (14) and Virat Kohli (14), managed only 56 runs among them.

After the top-order collapse, former head coach Ravi Shastri took a jibe at the India batters and BCCI with a comment on IPL.

“You must set your priorities, right? What is the priority? India or franchise cricket? You have to decide that. If you say franchise cricket, then forget this (WTC final). If this is important, then as the custodian of the sport, the BCCI are the bosses. There should be a clause in the IPL contract that if they need a player out of the IPL in the interest of India, they have the right to do it,” Shastri said while speaking to Star Sports.

“First, put the clause and then ask the franchises to decide how much they want to invest. That is very important. You are the custodian of the sport. You control cricket in the country," he added.

This isn't the first time Shastri has raised this issue. Before the IPL 2023 season, he had said that India’s WTC final-bound players must take a rest during the cash-rich league to manage their workload.

Coming to the WTC final, Australia were 123/4 in their second innings at the close of play on Day 3, stretching their lead to 296 runs with Marnus Labuschagne (41*) and Cameron Green (7*) unbeaten in the middle.