Dinesh Karthik, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman, suggests that Ravichandran Ashwin should be left out of the playing XI for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Karthik recommends the inclusion of four fast bowlers in the lineup for the summit clash.
India is set to face Australia in the WTC final at the Kennington Oval in London from June 7th to 11th. With conditions expected to favor pacers in the final, there has been a debate on whether the Rohit Sharma-led team should opt for the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
During an interview with Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik expressed his opinion that Umesh Yadav should be the third seamer in the playing XI alongside Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami.
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“I think they should leave out Ashwin and play four pacers. Although I enjoyed watching Ashwin bowl in Southampton, I doubt the coach will make the same decision again,” Karthik shared with Cricbuzz.
“Umesh Yadav has been impressive in the nets. He looks sharp and feels good physically. I have a strong feeling they will go with Umesh,” he added.
Karthik believes that Virat Kohli can replicate his impressive form from the IPL in the WTC final. Kohli had a remarkable performance in the T20 league, amassing 639 runs, including two centuries and six half-centuries.
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“Virat Kohli batted brilliantly right from the beginning. In the first game, he scored 70 against the Mumbai Indians. He looked in top form throughout the tournament and finished strong. His two centuries were phenomenal. He is batting exceptionally well, and I am confident he will deliver a good score,” Karthik further remarked.
The 38-year-old also emphasized that Cheteshwar Pujara will play a crucial role in India’s success in the WTC final, highlighting his significance as the team’s most important player.
“For me, the key to India’s success in the WTC final and crossing the finish line will be Cheteshwar Pujara,” Karthik concluded. Pujara recently represented the Sussex team in the County Championship Division Two, scoring 545 runs in eight innings with a highest score of 151.