IND vs AUS: Ravichandran Ashwin Dropped from Playing XI
As anticipated, India have gone with a four-man pace attack in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia at the Oval. Consequently, Ravichandran Ashwin has been left out of the playing XI, with Umesh Yadav being chosen as the fourth pacer. The decision had been a difficult one to make, as both spin and pace had been considered for the WTC Final. Taking into account the pitch at Oval, which is more conducive to pacers than spinners, Rohit Sharma settled on the option of having the extra pace of Umesh.
Oval Conditions Suitable for Umesh Yadav’s Skills
The conditions for the match are overcast, offering swing and seam movement, making Umesh Yadav’s skills all the more valuable. India already have Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI, and head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma have decided to capitalize on the Oval conditions by opting for a full-strength pace attack. Mohammed Siraj, Shami, and Shardul Thakur are the other three pacers alongside Umesh.
WTC Final LIVE Broadcast: Star-Studded Commentary Panel
The WTC Final will be broadcast live, with a star-studded commentary panel featuring Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly.
Conclusion
India’s decision to go with a four-man pace attack for the WTC Final against Australia at the Oval has seen Ravichandran Ashwin being dropped from the playing XI. The overcast conditions and the pitch at Oval, which is more conducive to pacers than spinners, have made Umesh Yadav’s skills more valuable than those of Ashwin. The live broadcast of the match will be headlined by a star-studded commentary panel featuring Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly.