The way India began Day 2 of the World Test Championship final was pretty much the same: Erratic. If there is ever a good time for a bowling team to strike, it is the first hour of a new day. Travis Head and Steve Smith continued to frustrate the opposition, so it was far from a rit. Smith finished his 31st Test century, while Travis Head arrived at his 150 as India’s speed bowling couple of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj watched out of choices.

Mohammed Siraj gave Smith back-to-back half-volleys in the day’s first over, allowing the former Australia captain to score consecutive boundaries and reach the three-figure mark.

Such a lazy start did not impress Sunil Gavaskar one bit, who was clearly stunned and said: 

“What is happening? I mean these are the second and third deliveries of the day”.

Gavaskar said

When Siraj ran in to bowl the following ball, Smith abruptly withdrew due to issues with the Spider-cam. However, Siraj was not enjoying it enough. Siraj frustrated threw the ball back at the stumps despite stopping in his delivery stride. The India quick was unimpressed as Smith attempted to explain to Siraj why he was not playing the delivery while pointing at the Spider-cam. Siraj had received a sounding off from his captain, Rohit Sharma, during the previous delivery, and the fact that he had to stop when he was really steaming irritated him even more.

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“Steve Smith just backing away. Didn’t please Siraj but Smith had every right to move out of the way. It’s more the frustration of Siraj being hit for two boundaries. He got run off by Rohit Sharma the previous ball,”

said Ravi Shastri on air.

However, the incident ended up being a blessing in disguise for India, and Siraj in particular

Siraj began bending his back as a result of the Smith incident and was eventually rewarded with Head’s wicket. Regardless of having Head in a spot with a flood of short conveyances – one that made them jump and the other skying the ball with a confused draw – Siraj had his man out and got behind after a strong 163, finishing a 285-run organization.

India’s lackluster start with the ball caught Matthew Hayden by surprise too, who said, 

“This was a start India didn’t want! You don’t want to give an inch to Steve Smith. It’s a perfect delivery when you sit all night contemplating your hundred. A little juicy half volley on leg stump, thank you very much.”

Hayden said

The exclusion of premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from the India team for the World Test Championship final against Australia has drawn analysis from Australian cricket legends Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting.

Ashwin, India’s leading wicket-taker in the 2021-23 WTC cycle and currently the top-ranked Test bowler, was left out as the team led by Rohit Sharma chose to field four seamers to improve their pace attack.

Hayden and Ponting voiced their disapproval of India’s decision, pointing to the questionable move of not having Ashwin.

“I feel that Ravichandran Ashwin  is such a key factor, the leading wicket taker in the Tests cycle is not there. There are a few factors worth pondering on in Team India’s perspective,”

Hayden told ICC after the day one’s proceedings. 

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is the only spinner in the playing XI without Ashwin. He took no wickets as India struggled to break the 251-run partnership between Steve Smith and Travis Head (146 batting).

With 327/3 on the board, Australia won day one with Head’s blistering century, his first in England, and Smith’s determined performance.

World Cup-winning skipper Ponting called Ashwin’s rejection a “mistake”

“So far for me, it looks like it was a mistake from them by playing the four seamers, but we will see how the game pans out,” Ponting told the ICC.

“As this game goes on, I have got no doubt that there is going to be a turn. Australia have got a lot of left-handers in their batting line-up to which Ashwin would have been perfectly suited for,”

he said, as Ashwin is the most successful bowler in Tests against left-handers.

After winning the toss, there was also discussion regarding Rohit’s “bowl-first” decision, and Hayden suggested that the Indian captain might have “missed a trick.”

“I feel they may have missed a trick at the toss. Even if Pat Cummins said he would have liked to bowl, I secretly think Australia always likes to bat first in Tests. I feel like Rohit Sharma was caught thinking that we’re going to play the day rather than playing the Test match.”

he further added.

Head was the aggressive player on day one, scoring 146 runs in just 156 deliveries as he attacked the Indian attack as the wicket got easier.

Hayden and Ponting contrasted Head likewise with the partner and unbelievable wicketkeeper hitter Adam Gilchrist after he swung the force in support of Australia in ‘A definitive Test’.

“It was a classical Travis Head attacking style. One of the things in this Championship cycle is that Head not only scored over 1000 runs but he did at a strike rate of 80-plus,”

Hayden said 

“That’s really hard to do when you are playing a tournament of such pressure, and also you are under enormous pressure because of the atmospheric conditions. But he finds a way to get this terrific strike rate. He is almost like Adam Gilchrist was in his day, somehow able to put so much pressure on opposition simply because they do not know where to bowl,”

Hayden added.

During his illustrious Test career, Gilchrist had a strike rate of 81.95, and Head is moving in the same direction, scoring at a similar rate during Australia’s World Test Championship.

“He probably is (similar to Gilchrist). In fact he is probably scoring quicker now than Gilly probably ever did,”  

“His strike-rate through this (World Test Championship) qualification period is 81, which is higher than anyone else in the world to have scored more than 500 runs.”

Ponting said.

SHAMI AND CO ERRED IN THEIR LENGTH 

Ponting further said India’s pacers erred with their length early against Head.

“I think when he first comes in you need to execute perfectly to him. It is no good trying to over attack him because if you bowl any bad ball, he is going to put it away. They will learn by the way they bowled to him in this first innings, and they will definitely adjust in this second innings, but sometimes it is too late.” 

Ponting noted.

Australian middle order batter Travis Head adapted to the situation and made history on Wednesday (June 7) by turning into the main player to score a century in the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

The oddball match started off on Wednesday (June 7), and on the primary day of the culmination conflict, the Loose Greens returned quickly in the wake of losing three top-request players from the get-go in the innings to arrive at a decent aggregate.

Because of Travis Head’s unbeaten 146 and Steve Smith’s 95 not out, WTC 2021-23 table clinchers Australia completed Day 1 with a score of 327 for three of every 85 overs. The middle order team added 251 runs for the fourth wicket after the Aussies were seen battling at 76 for 3 when Mohammed Shami broke world No. Marnus Labuschagne, a Test batter, took one wicket.

Head, who has been performing admirably since the beginning of the 2021–22 Ashes, batted aggressively, assisting his team in keeping India at bay. In the World Test Championship final, he became the first batter to score a century. The left-handed batter has faced 156 pitches thus far and has hit 22 fours and one six.

The Australians have taken the lead thanks to Head’s batting, but if India had been successful in getting him out early in the innings, all of this could have been avoided

When Head was batting at 71 and the Australians were 185 for 3, India had an opportunity to get rid of Head. Head attempted to play a cut shot on the second ball of the 57th over, bowled by Shami, but the ball whistled over Rahane’s head before he could react.

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It was a difficult chance that could have been turned around, and when Rahane missed the chance, everyone was focused on the reactions of Indian skipper Rohit and pacer Shami. As the ball raced for four and Head remained alive, the duo can be seen expressing their dissatisfaction over the missed opportunity.

At least on Day 1, the Indian management’s decision to field four seamers and place R Ashwin on the bench for the summit match has backfired. Shami, Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav are the four pacers, and although they have all conceded runs with economies greater than 3.50, they were unable to pose a significant threat to Head and Smith.

Rohit Sharma and Ricky Ponting have not been in total agreement in that frame of mind up to the World Test Championship Final among India and Australia and that didn’t change the slightest bit when play started on Day 1 at The Oval. The legendary skipper of Australia harshly criticized Rohit’s decision to play an extra seamer instead of premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a day after he rejected Ponting’s claim that the conditions gave Australia a slight advantage.

Rohit said that it was hard to leave Ashwin out, but they had to do what was “best for the team” given the pitch and the cloudy weather after choosing to bowl. Ravindra Jadeja was selected as India’s sole spin-bowling all-rounder, with Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav selected as the four quicks.

Ponting said India picked a team only for the first innings.

“India have fallen into the trap of picking an attack for the first inning of this Test match only,”

Ponting said during commentary in the first session.

‘Ashwin would’ve bowled better than Jadeja in 2nd innings’: Ponting

The former captain of Australia was absolutely certain that Ashwin would have bowled better than Jadeja during the course of the Test match, particularly with regard to the four left-handed batsmen that Australia has in their batting lineup.

“The reason why I was surprised that Ashwin was left out is because of the number of left-handers Australia have. There’s no doubt in my mind that Ashwin would have bowled a lot better than Jadeja later on in the Test. The big decision that they had to make was between Thakur and Umesh. I was leaning towards Thakur because he would be my workhorse to give a bit of a break to the strike bowlers Shami and Siraj. You can go to Jadeja for a couple of overs just to tie the game down a bit,”

he added.

India bowled too short with the new ball: Ponting, Karthik

Dinesh Karthik and Ponting were also critical of the lengths that Shami, Siraj, Shardul, and Umesh, India’s pace bowlers, bowled with the new ball. The best bowler was Siraj, who also bowled Usman Khawaja out for a duck. The others bowled too short or in the wrong direction.

“It always looks good because they are pretty bowls but the one that gets you the wickets is the one pitched in the 5-meter mark,”

said Karthik.

“If India had bowled really well then 60% would have been on the fuller side and 20% on a good length. I made a point earlier, the bowlers will have to accept that they are gonna get driven every now and then. What the captain can do is maybe have his mid-off and mid-on straighter and deeper which just gives the bowlers encouragement to pitch it up,”

Ponting added.

David Warner, on the other hand, appeared to be the best Australian batter. When Umesh Yadav entered the attack, he gutted it out despite Khawaja’s early wicket and Siraj’s trying spell. He then slowly started to attack. The gloved one down the leg side for 43 against Shardul Thakur just as the left-hander appeared poised for a big one.

Marnus Labuschagne (26*) and Steve Smith (1*) were in the crease for Australia on Day 1 and Australia finished the day at 73/2.

In recent times, Pant, lyer, and Jadeja’s counter-attacking style has been the foundation of India’s middle order batting in Tests. With Pant and Lyer absent, Pujara, Kohli, and Rahane must pick up the pace and set the tone… India’s middle order in Tests is on the verge of collapse.

Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli are all in their mid-30s and are batting to demonstrate that they have the strength to lead India’s batting through the toughest challenges. And their readiness will be best demonstrated in the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval in London.

In a year and a half, Pujara and Rahane have been on an excursion from being dropped as India’s batting pillars to pawing their direction back through homegrown drudgery even as Kohli was attempting to demonstrate he may as yet conclusively affect Test matches.

This while, Team India lead trainer Rahul Dravid approached laying out Rishabh Pant and Shreyas lyer as the mainstays of the middle order for what’s to come

Before joining India’s senior team in November 2021, Dravid wanted to build on the talent he had developed as the head of the country’s development teams. He didn’t really deserve criticism. For this reason, Pant began his meteoric rise to become an irresistible force in the middle order during the 2020–21 tour of Australia. By playing crucial knocks in critical situations, Iyer also started to improve.

Surprisingly, Ravindra Jadeja also emerged as a reliable Test batter. These three, with the assistance of the lower request, became accustomed to rescuing a great deal of Indian innings.

It’s interesting that before the historic turnaround in Australia, team management under Kohli was against Pant becoming a regular member of the first XI. Pujara, Kohli and Rahane were the main picks, eyes shut. Rahane has managed to sneak back into the team after two and a half years, with the current management hoping he can take Pant’s place at No. 5.

Fundamentally, India’s most capable triplet is passed on to compensate for the shortfall of Pant and lyer. It also shows that the selectors are forced to rely on the old warhorses because they are unable to find a second line after Pant and Lyer.

One should look past the simple numbers that Pant, lyer and Jadeja have set up. Pant’s extremely aggressive counter attacking style, which was well supported by lyer and Jadeja, served as a kind of foreshadowing for England’s new, all-out style of Test cricket. From its basic batting style of grinding it out, test cricket has evolved. This style of cricket, which is frequently referred to as reckless, is now some of the best teams’ primary strategy for achieving success in the longest format.

The pattern is exemplified by Pant and Jadeja’s centuries on the counterattack during the sole Test against England at Edgbaston last year. For the record, Pujara, Kohli, and Rahane have been batting at 37.53, 44.22, and 46.1 respectively since Pant’s ascent to Test batsman of the year on the Australian tour in 2020-21.

Pujara and Rahane have, nonetheless, presently affirmed for the venture. After being dropped in 2022, Pujara admitted, on the eve of his 100th Test in Delhi in February, that he went back to county cricket to add more shots to his arsenal on Dravid’s advice.

“Playing white-ball cricket for Saurashtra and Sussex really helped. It made me a little more open-minded and flexible,”

Pujara had said.

Rahane’s rebound story also has been based on this methodology. He played domestic cricket aggressively, which led to him winning the IPL championship. Rahane claimed that, toward the end of the Ranji Trophy season, he had been re-watching old videos of his batting to get back into that mindset.

“I want to bat with the same mindset and show the same intent that I showed in IPL and Ranji Trophy. I would not like to think about the format. The way I am batting now, I don’t want to complicate things and the more I keep it simple, the better it is,”

Rahane stated to BCCI.tv.

Most conversations on India’s batting line-up for the WTC last have spun around how India could make up for Pant’s shortcoming. Experts have suggested that a replacement should be found that is as similar to Pant’s style as possible.

Consequently, the noise for Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav’s consideration. However, the management of the team would be aware that it will ultimately fall to Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, and Jadeja to ensure that India does not suffer greatly from Pant’s absence.

With the sixteenth release of the Indian Premier League (IPL) reaching an end, all streets currently lead to The Oval as Rohit Sharma‘s team India is good to go to make their re-visitation of worldwide cricket for A definitive Test. This week at the Oval, Rohit’s Team India, the newly ranked No. 1 team in red-ball cricket, will play Australia, coached by Pat Cummins, in the ICC World Test Championship final. Team India, who finished second in the previous edition of the ICC World Test Championship, will be eager to end their long-running title drought at ICC events.

When the legendary MS Dhoni was in charge, the two-time world champions last won an ICC trophy. In 2013, the Men in Blue were led to victory in the Champions Trophy by the former India skipper. The Asian giants have not won a single trophy in ICC competitions since then. India were defeated by most outstanding adversaries Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy Final. After that, New Zealand stunned the Men in Blue in the ODI World Cup semi-final. In the past T20 World Cup, India were pounded by possible heroes England in the semi-finals.

What is preventing India from overcoming the final obstacle in ICC competitions? Can Team India defeat Australia to win a major ICC trophy this season? Matthew Hayden, a legendary Australian opener, stated that the team’s absence from ICC competitions is more of a “mindset” problem.

“It’s certainly not a question of skill. So, it has to be a question of just the opportunity and the mindset going in. I mean, cricket is life here, it is the DNA of sport and has no other competitors. In Australia I could walk down the street and largely be unrecognized, especially with this terrible beard and hat on (laughs). But it’s also got great competitive sports besides cricket. Rugby, football, our water sports, surfing, outdoor sports, here in India it’s very insular and there’s a lot of pressure,”

Hayden told PTI.

Hayden’s advice to Team India

The legendary Australian opener is of the opinion that neither team has an advantage going into the final, which is scheduled to take place from June 7 to June 11 at the Oval in London. Hayden also has some interesting advice for Rohit’s Team India ahead of the World Test Championship final, citing the recent success of IPL giants Gujarat Titans (GT), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

“It’s the same with Pakistan cricket as well. There is one sport and it is cricket so it’s a mindset thing. Being cautious about looking for the scoreboard and looking for the titles and just playing and being a part of the process, something when you look at franchise setups, Gujarat Titans have done really well this year and CSK have done very well. Mumbai Indians as well believe in a certain process. So, that would be my advice to Indian cricket to forget the outcomes, but buy into the process,”

Hayden said.

‘Shubman Gill will be a superstar of any cricket format’

Additionally, the former CSK star made a significant statement regarding Shubman Gill’s rise. After a successful IPL 2023 season, India opener Gill has arrived in London. The Orange Cap winner and IPL Player of the Tournament has also made a name for himself in the Indian lineup across formats by playing a string of stunning knocks for Team India.

“You will see a lot of Shubman Gill for the next 15 years. The foundations behind a good Test cricketer are pretty simple. And Shubman, and KL Rahul before him, fundamentally have fantastic games. So, he’ll be a superstar of any cricket format for a very long time. One of the biggest advantages that Shubman has and he showed this when he was touring Australia is he’s very good off the backfoot as well. So square of wicket play is excellent. And that’ll stand him in good stead even against the best Test sides in the world,”

Hayden added.

In an eagerly awaited moment, the first group of Indian cricketers embarked on their journey to London on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a thrilling cricketing season. While the majority of the team members set off on the anticipated voyage, two prominent figures, Mohammed Siraj and Virat Kohli, are slated to join the squad a day later.

The departure of the Indian cricket team for their international tour is always an event that ignites enthusiasm among fans and experts alike. As the players geared up to represent their nation on the prestigious stage, their travel to London symbolized the start of a captivating series that promises intense competition and remarkable performances.

The contingent that embarked on Tuesday consisted of a talented group of individuals who are expected to play pivotal roles in the upcoming matches. Led by interim captain Ajinkya Rahane, the team includes several seasoned players such as Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah. Their wealth of experience and exceptional skills make them invaluable assets to the Indian side.

While the initial batch of players eagerly headed towards London, the absence of Mohammed Siraj and Virat Kohli was notable. 

Siraj, the skilled fast bowler, and Kohli, the charismatic captain, are set to join their teammates a day later

Their delayed departure is likely due to various factors such as personal commitments or individual training requirements.

Mohammed Siraj has been a rising star in the Indian cricketing landscape. His impressive performances and consistent display of skill have earned him accolades and a dedicated fan following. On the other hand, Virat Kohli, one of the most celebrated cricketers of his generation, commands immense respect and admiration both on and off the field.

Their delayed arrival in London has sparked curiosity and discussion among fans and experts, with speculations surrounding their roles and potential impact in the upcoming matches. While the team will undoubtedly miss their presence during the initial stages of the tour, the arrival of Siraj and Kohli is anticipated to provide a substantial boost to the Indian team’s morale and performance.

As the Indian cricket team sets foot in London, the cricketing world eagerly awaits the exciting battles that lie ahead. The matches against the formidable English side are expected to be fiercely contested, showcasing the talent and determination of both teams. With the arrival of Siraj and Kohli imminent, the Indian squad looks poised to face the challenges and strive for victory in the much-anticipated series.

Additionally, a minor modification was made to the free hit rule, which now applies to runs scored when the ball hits the stumps. As a result, batters would be able to take advantage of free hits and run attempts.

The ICC has chosen to get rid of the petulant ‘soft sign’ by on-field authorities, which had frequently been censured by specialists as it is accepted to have made more disarray for television umpires after a choice was alluded higher up.

The “soft signal” was used to validate catches that couldn’t always be seen with the naked eye and were taken just inches above the ground.

According to ICC rules,

“soft signal is the visual communication by the bowler’s end umpire to the third umpire (accompanied by additional information via two-way radio where necessary) of his/her initial on-field decision prior to initiating an Umpire Review.”

Till now the on-field umpire would either signal ‘out’ or ‘not out’ based on their gut feeling. And the third umpire was compelled to go by ‘soft signal’ as most of the footage proved to be inconclusive.

After the CEC approved the recommendations from the men’s cricket committee led by Sourav Ganguly and the women’s cricket committee, the ICC made changes to the “playing conditions.”

“The major change involved the soft signal being scrapped, with umpires no longer required to give a soft signal when referring decisions to the TV umpire. The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken,”

the ICC said.

“Soft signals have been discussed at previous cricket committee meetings over the last couple of years. The committee deliberated this at length and concluded that soft signals were unnecessary and at times confusing since referrals of catches may seem inconclusive in replays.” 

Former India captain Ganguly said

Helmets becoming a requirement for high-risk positions was the other big news. Mandatory utilization of head protectors will be the following: when fielders are close to the batter in front of the wicket, when wicket keepers are standing up to the stumps, and when batters are facing fast bowlers.

“We also discussed player safety, which is very important for us. The committee decided that it was best to make the use of helmets mandatory in certain positions to ensure the safety of players.”

Ganguly said.

New ‘free hit rule’

Additionally, a minor modification was made to the free hit rule, which now applies to runs scored when the ball hits the stumps. As a result, batters would be able to take advantage of free hits and run attempts.

With the Lord’s Test, a four-day one-off match between England and Ireland, on June 1, 2023, the changes will take effect.

These new playing conditions will also be applied to the subsequent World Test Championship final between India and Australia, which will take place on June 7.

After suffering an injury during the ongoing IPL 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Sunday that KL Rahul will not play in the World Test Championship final against Australia next month at The Oval. 

Ishan Kishan was chosen by the selectors to take Rahul’s place in the big final

However, the BCCI has yet to make a decision regarding Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav’s injuries. Rahul sustained an injury to his right upper thigh while fielding on May 1 at the Ekana Stadium during the IPL 2023 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore. As a result, he was out for the remainder of the tournament.

“After consultations with specialists, it has been decided that Rahul will undergo surgery at the earliest followed by rehab at the National Cricket Academy for the same. He is ruled out of the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia,”

read the BCCI statement.

Three days before BCCI’s official declaration, Rahul had proactively affirmed that he wouldn’t have the option to come to London for the WTC last as a destroyed LSG captain posted an extensive Instagram post a couple of days after his physical issue blow.

“Absolutely gutted that I won’t be at the Oval next month with Team India. I’ll do everything I can to get back in blue and help my country. That has always been my focus and priority. @indiancricketteam.” 

He had mentioned.

BCCI likewise gave a significant update on the injuries of Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav. During the net session, the LSG fast bowler had tripped over the side rope while bowling, resulting in a serious injury to his bowling shoulder. He has now been sent to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where the BCCI will keep a close eye on how he is progressing before making a decision on who to replace him.

“A specialist consultation has been sought and the left-arm fast bowler is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru undergoing strength and rehab sessions for his shoulder. A decision on his participation in the WTC final will be taken at a later stage,”

the BCCI statement added.

On the other hand, Umesh had suffered a minor injury to his left hamstring on April 26 while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

“The fast bowler is currently under the care of the KKR Medical Team and has started low-intensity bowling as part of his rehab process. The BCCI Medical Team is in regular touch with KKR Medical Team and is closely monitoring Umesh’s progress,”

read the update.

The selectors meanwhile also named three stand-by players for the WTC Final – Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav.

India’s squad for WTC final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk).

India and Australia are set to conflict with one another in the WTC finals. England will host the ICC World Test Championship final from June 7 to June 11. To be eligible for the WTC final, Australia and India both topped the WTC points table. In the WTC final, Rohit Sharma will lead Team India.

Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah are among the crucial players who will not be available for the match. As a result, India might also include some Ranji players in their lineup. In this article, we will discuss five Ranji Trophy players from India who may be selected to represent India in the World Test Championship final.

1. Priyank Panchal

The first Ranji Trophy participant who has a chance of making the India team for the WTC final is Priyank Panchal. Despite only playing five games in the Ranji Trophy 2022–23, Panchal batted 97.17 percent for Gujarat. In only 7 innings, he broke 583 runs. He has consistently performed well in Ranji Trophy competitions, and if the team needs to add a batter for the WTC final, Panchal will undoubtedly be one of the top options.

2. Baltej Singh

Baltej Singh is one more player on this rundown. Baltej Singh took the most wickets among pacers in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23. He took 43 wickets in nine tournament matches for Punjab. The average speed of the right-arm medium pacer was just 14.07. His impressive performance during the Ranji Trophy season may earn him a spot in the India squad for the WTC final.

3. Sachin Baby

This list also includes Sachin Baby. Playing for Kerala in Ranji Prize 2022-23, Child broke 800 runs in only 7 Tests at a splendid normal of 83.0. In addition, he had three centuries in the tournament. He had the fifth-most runs in the tournament as a whole. He has a chance to make the India team for the WTC final after his impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy season.

4. Sarfaraz Khan

Another Ranji Trophy player who could make the India WTC squad is Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz scored three centuries in nine innings for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23, batting at an average of 92.66. In addition, his outstanding batting performance prompted numerous experts to discuss his inclusion in the Test team. He may be selected as a replacement for Shreyas Iyer because he is a middle-order batsman.

5. Abhimanyu Easwaran

Last but not the least is Abhimanyu Easwaran, who is eligible for India’s WTC final roster. Easwaran put together a fantastic batting performance for Bengal during the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season. The right-handed batsman scored 798 runs at an average of 66.50 in eight tournament games. During the Test series against Bangladesh last year, he was also included in the team.