The World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will be played on June 7 at the Oval and pits Australia against India, will begin with Australia as the favorite, according to former Australian captain Ian Chappell. Ian Chappell emphasized how badly the injuries had affected India by mentioning the absence of Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah.
Due to their individual injuries, KL Rahul, the opener, Rishabh Pant, the wicketkeeper, and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will not play in the upcoming WTC Final match. Bumrah has been out with a back injury since last September. Pant had an accident in December of last year, leading to multiple surgeries.
Ian Chappell noted in his column for ESPN Cricinfo that the Australian pace trio can take advantage of the changing conditions, particularly in early June in England.
“If Australia’s classy pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are available, that makes them slight favourites. They are good bowlers any time, but England in early June should be right up their alley,” Ian Chappell said.
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“Nevertheless, an Indian pace attack containing Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav is also strong and only just behind the Australian trio in wicket-taking capability,” he added.
“The somewhat surprising unavailability of allrounder Hardik Pandya also harms India, as he could have provided them with the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle,” he further added.