CricketRavichandran Ashwin Might Not Play In WTC Final, Rohit Sharma Says It’s Not Yet Decided
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Ravichandran Ashwin’s chances of playing in the World Test Championship final against Australia seem to be less possible due to the prevailing weather conditions and pitch conditions at The Oval.

The recent change in weather has brought cold and overcast conditions, with the pitch covered evenly with grass. The forecast for the upcoming days indicates similar conditions, and the chances of rain increase as the weekend approaches.

These factors have raised concerns for India, as they possess two exceptional spin-bowling all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. However, fielding both of them in the playing eleven might not be a viable option.

The injuries to Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have left India’s middle-order relatively light, making it difficult for them to drop Ravindra Jadeja, who is also a prominent spinner, and include Ashwin as the better bowler.


Jadeja Is Expected To Play, Ashwin To Miss Out


As it stands, Jadeja is expected to be India’s sole spinner and the number six batsman. Meanwhile, the four pacers likely to be included in the team are Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, and Jaydev Unadkat.

India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, emphasized the need to wait until Wednesday before finalizing the playing eleven. He acknowledged the pitch’s changing nature and indicated that it might differ from day to day. While talking to media Rohit Sharma said:

I’ve not said that Ashwin is not going to play. We’ll wait until tomorrow – because one thing I have seen here – the pitch actually changes quite a bit from day to day. Today it’s looking the way it is. Tomorrow it might be slightly different, who knows. So the message to the boys has been very clear, all 15 must be ready to play at any point in time.


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Ravichandran Ashwin during preparations for WTC final at the Kia Oval // Getty Images

Sharma also highlighted the assistance the seamers might receive from the current overhead conditions, but he expressed uncertainty about how significantly the pitch could change as the match progresses.

He recalled a previous test match at The Oval, where the pitch initially resembled the current one but gradually improved, becoming slower, and allowing for reverse swing on the fifth day.

Taking all these factors into account, the team management will make a decision regarding the ideal combination for the final XI.

When questioned about the transition from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to the high-stakes Test match of the WTC final, Sharma stated that it is not something new for Indian players.


Read More: The Oval pitch will aid spinners, a good venue for India-Tendulkar


He mentioned that player rotation is implemented to manage workload, ensuring that players remain fresh for important series. Despite the packed cricket schedule, Sharma asserted that the team is accustomed to such circumstances and that managing players and their workloads is crucial.

The current weather and pitch conditions at The Oval have cast doubt on Ravichandran Ashwin’s participation in the World Test Championship final. India’s middle-order vulnerabilities, coupled with the presence of other talented spinners, have made it challenging to accommodate Ashwin in the playing eleven.

Captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of considering the changing pitch conditions and managing players’ workloads effectively. The final decision on the playing eleven will be made after assessing the conditions and the team’s requirements.