Southampton: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday has announced the 15-member squad for WTC final against New Zealand starting from June 18 in Southampton. Virat Kohli will be leading the side while Ravindra Jadeja made a comeback to the final squad.
The debate around who will open the batting appears to be resolved as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are the only regular openers who have made it to the final squad. Both the wicket-keepers Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant made it to the final 15 man squad. Middle order batsman Hanuma Vihari made a comeback after missing out the England series back in February due to injuries. Vice captain Ajinkya Rahane, Mr. Dependable Chetashwar Pujara and champion bowler R Aswhin have also been included in the squad.
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India are likely to go in with 3 pacers and two spinners. However, India have increased their fast-bowling options by including five seamers Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj in the 15-man squad. It will be interesting to watch out of whom three are expected to play the match.
India have left out openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwral along with fast bowler Shardul Thakur in the final team. All-rounder Hardik Pandya has also failed to make the Test squad for the England tour earlier this year. England series hero Axar Patel and Washington Sundar also failed to found a spot in the 15 member squad. In Shardul’s absence senior pacer Umesh Yadav also finds a spot.
India and New Zealand will battle it out for the prestigious title at Southampton on June 18.
India’s squad for Test Championship final: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Wriddhiman Saha.
