India in England, summer of 2021

[prasen9]

India announced the 15 member team. Seems like the team management is thinking of Ishant, Shami, Siraj. I would go with Jadeja as the spinner and an extra bat. So,

Rohit, Gill, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Pant, Vihari, Jadeja, Shami, Ishant, Bumrah.

Jadeja and Vihari's part-time spin will have to do. The bowlers are fresh and so should be able to bowl longer spells. But, on the other hand, they may not be that match fit

[PKBasu]

I think there is no point at all in playing Vihari ahead of Ashwin. That would just weaken the bowling immeasurably without adding anything to the batting. But this may well be the (stupid) decision made. Vihari wasn't used by his county side as a bowler, so why should he be thought capable of bowling in tests?
If India had to pick an "allrounder", it should have been Washington Sundar, not Vihari.

[indiansportsfan]

Yeah I think both Ashwin and jadeja will play, and there is nothing to indicate the team management is thinking otherwise. The pitch/weather are also expected to provide assistance to spinners. The toss will be crucial, the team batting first will have a big advantage, and the pitch is expected to aid spin more as the match progresses.

[prasen9]

I doubt the pitch is going to spin. I suppose Ashwin's bowling is useful and I do not mind playing Ashwin ahead of Vihari.

[Atithee]

Why not Agarwal instead of Vihari if he’s in the squad? Vihari’s English outing was a dud. His confidence has to be very low. Ashwin ahead of Vihari is a no-brainer for me. Of course, I’ll never pick Ishant but that’s a lost cause. If only Siraj had more than one batting shot—retreat to leg stump, expose all the stumps, and flail his bat to ramp every ball—he’d be my pick.

[prasen9]

Agarwal is not in the squad. In reality, I think Ashwin will play and not Vihari. I just don't believe the English curators will let anything spin.

[Atithee]

WTC final pitch: Curator aims for 'pace, bounce and carry'

Southampton groundsman Simon Lee says spin could potentially become a factor too, later in the game, if conditions remain mostly dry

Nagraj Gollapudi
13-Jun-2021

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wtc- ... ry-1266382

[prasen9]

The lip service to spin is just that: spin. After what we did to them, don't expect any spin in any of the pitches in England. I know this is being run by the ICC but England naturally aligns with their white brethren. And, the ICC is not going to tell them that the pitch has to take spin at the end of the game. Besides, taking spin in the last day or two with no spin in the first 3 days is a bad thing. It makes the toss all too important. Remember Chennai?

I would be good with a slightly batting pitch with a bit of grass. We have the bowlers to win. We have to see how our batsmen cope.

[Atithee]

India's XI for the WTC final

India name both Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin in five-man bowling attack for WTC final

That also means India have only five specialist batters in the line-up, followed by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wtc- ... al-1266824

[prasen9]

This is the safe bet but we have a very long tail now.

[PKBasu]

We have a 3-man tail comprising the pacers. Ashwin has shown his resumed batting ability in recent tests. Jadeja is a quality batsman, far superior to Vihari.

[prasen9]

Jadeja over Vihari is a slam dunk. Ashwin's batting, I do not know. Let us see. He can give us 25 runs or so if he has indeed gotten his form back. If Vihari is such a dud, why is he even in the squad?

[PKBasu]

Vihari is a reserve specialist batsman, to be picked if one of the frontline batters is injured.

[Atithee]

Weather forecast is not good for the first day but there is a reserve day for this match.

[prasen9]

Gill fails again. At least they saw off the new ball. But, 69-2 is not good. He has got 12 outs. Maybe 1-2 tests more for him to find form, figure out what is ailing him. Young people should be given a log rope. However, we have Mayank and Prithvi in the wings. People should perform.