Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid Face Spin Conundrum for World Test Championship Final 2023
The Oval Stadium pitch is unlikely to be a dry surface, as it sported a lush green look two weeks ago and has been under wraps due to intermittent rain. This poses a dilemma for Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid: should they go all in with a spin trio for the India Playing 11 for the WTC Final, or just have Ravindra Jadeja as the specialist spinner?
Axar Patel Unlikely to be Selected as Specialist Batter
Axar Patel is unlikely to get the nod as a specialist batter, which would mean sending Ravichandran Ashwin to the bench for the India vs Australia World Test Championship Final. Jadeja, due to his form and effectiveness in SENA countries, is miles ahead of Ashwin in selection. His terrific batting form is also an added bonus. On the other hand, Axar has established himself as a worthy contender for a batting spot in the lower order.
Ashwin in Limbo Once Again
This leaves Ashwin in the limbo once again. India did play with all three of their spinners in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but the Oval Stadium pitch is unlikely to be dry, making it difficult to fit all three into the Playing 11.
Conclusion
Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid face a difficult decision when it comes to selecting their spinners for the World Test Championship Final 2023. With the Oval Stadium pitch unlikely to be dry, Ashwin may be left out of the Playing 11, leaving Ravindra Jadeja and possibly Axar Patel as the two spinners.