India’s Road to the WTC Final 2023: A Mixed Bag
Cricket is a game of numbers, and no one understands this better than the Indian Cricket Team. The 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle has been a rollercoaster ride for the team, with 5 captains, 2 coaches, 6 series, 10 wins and 5 losses. Virat Kohli’s failure to secure the last WTC crown has put the onus on Rohit Sharma to end the ICC trophy drought when they face Australia at the Oval on June 7.
Home Success but Overseas Struggles
The two-year journey has been a mixed bag of results. India have performed well in their home series, winning all of them. However, their overseas results have been less than satisfactory, with 1 loss and 1 draw in the series. India were unable to take the series win in England, despite having a 2-1 lead. In South Africa, they went from a 1-0 lead to a 1-2 loss.
Change in Coaching Personnel
Amidst the matches, India also had a change in their coaching personnel. Ravi Shastri made way for Rahul Dravid, while Paras Mhambrey took charge of bowling after Bharat Arun stepped down.
Conclusion
India’s journey to the WTC Final 2023 has been a bumpy ride. With their home success, they have the potential to make it to the final, but they need to find a way to perform better overseas in order to make it there. With a new captain and coaching staff in place, India have a chance to turn their fortunes around and make it to the final.