Team India endured a crushing 209-run defeat in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia at The Oval on Sunday (June 11).
The Rohit Sharma-led side was outplayed by Australia throughout the Test match. After winning the toss, Indian bowlers failed to make the most of the overcast conditions as Australia rode on centuries from Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121) to rack up 469 in their first innings.
In response, India’s first innings folded for 296, conceding a substantial lead of 173 runs. Australia declared their second essay at 270/8 to set a huge target of 444 in the final innings.
Chasing the target, the Indian batting line-up once again crumbled under pressure and got bowled out for 234 in the morning session on Day 5.
After the completion of the WTC 2021-23 cycle, the discussion about transition is expected in the Indian Test team. A lot of the Indian players are on the wrong side of 30s and the team will need to take some tough calls heading into the next edition.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik was asked if there needs to be a revamp of the Indian Test squad or it's just that the team missed key players such as Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul in the WTC final.
In reply, Karthik said: "I think a bit of both. In many ways we know that a lot of them are in their mid-30s. So few questions there for Rahul Dravid, who he wants to keep and who he wants to move on with. Now other names that you said, Bumrah, Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Pant. Iyer will walk into this team. Let's make it very obvious. I think they warrant a place in the team. In this cycle, they have been one of the key reasons, why we are sitting here and talking in England today because that's the kind of success they have helped India achieve."
Karthik also named the players who could be picked in the Test squad. "No. 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has had a phenomenal domestic season. Are we going to find a place for him? No. 2 Sarfaraz Khan. Now that's been a big name doing the rounds for some time now in the middle order. If you want to fit him in, who are you going to leave out and then followed by the Mukesh Kumars and the rest of them, is there a place for a new medium pacer to come in and stamp his authority over a period of time? Are you going to give him that two-year cycle?"
Dinesh Karthik also highlighted the weaknesses in India's bowling department.
"Let's be very honest. I think Shami and Siraj were very good. But Umesh and Shardul as bowlers weren't as effective as Dravid and Rohit would have thought it to be. So, yes Shardul contributed with the bat. But are we always going to look at him as a bowler who can bat or a pure all-rounder. I would think more as a bowler who can bat. And Umesh, where do you see him in the context of things?" he remarked.
