Australia effortlessly tackled the challenging green-top Oval pitch during the initial two days of the World Test Championship final against India. However, Rohit Sharma and his team failed to replicate their performance. With the exception of Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and Ravindra Jadeja to some extent, the remaining Indian batsmen struggled against the Australian attack.
The top-order, consisting of the captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, only managed to score a total of 71 runs, leading to India losing four wickets in just 18.2 overs. Former India coach Ravi Shastri took a sharp dig at the Indian batsmen and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), making a remark about the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Also read: WTC Final Day 5 Pitch Report of The Oval
In the first innings, India’s bowlers conceded 469 runs before India suffered quick losses, falling four wickets down. Three of the top-order batsmen had recently participated in the IPL, with two of them being in exceptional form, scoring centuries. However, they were unable to replicate their success in the longer format of the game, which ultimately affected India’s performance.
Also read: WTC Final Day 5 Weather Report
During an interview with Star Sports, Shastri expressed his frustration towards Team India, urging them to prioritize their commitments between the IPL and national duty. He emphasized the need for players to make a decision regarding their priorities and suggested that the BCCI should include a clause in the IPL contracts, granting them the authority to withdraw players in the interest of the national team.
Shastri has previously raised this issue, consistently urging Indian players participating in the WTC final to manage their workload and form during the demanding IPL season. Similar messages were also conveyed to the BCCI and the selectors, requesting their involvement in the decision-making process with the WTC final in mind.