June 23rd, 2013, was the last time an Indian team stood on top of the podium holding an ICC trophy. Ten years apart, the situation remains the same. Indian cricket might have attained unbelievable heights in the past decade, but what didn’t change – was the trophy status. This year, the Indian team has another chance to put everything behind and march towards a more glorified future.

On June 7th at the Oval in London, the Indian team will be up against the mighty Australians for the World Test Championship trophy. Having lost the chance to win the inaugural edition against New Zealand two years ago in Southampton, the Rohit Sharma-led side will aim to end the ICC trophy drought this time.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/play-the-asia-cup-in-sri-lanka-or-pull-out-acc-to-pcb-reports-599105">Play the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka or pull out: ACC to PCB - Reports</a>

But for that, they have to beat Australia. And how do you beat Australia in an ICC knockout game? Considering India’s not-so-good record against the Oz in knockouts across formats, India will need to up their game to ensure they cross the line this time.&nbsp;

The Indian team is stacked with match-winners, be it in batting, bowling or even the all-rounder's category.&nbsp;

<h1>Banking on Australia’s weakness</h1>

To begin with, let’s see what loopholes India can exploit in those seaming conditions in the UK. Australia’s opening pair of David Warner and Usman Khawaja haven’t had the best success against the moving ball, particularly Warner - who has&nbsp;visibly struggled against the seaming deliveries early on. If the new ball pair of Mohammed Siraj and Shami continues to trouble them on those lines, India can get off to a blinder, irrespective of the match situation.

After them comes India’s biggest challenge – how to get rid of the number one Test batter Marnus Labuschagne and Australia’s best player in England, Steve Smith? Even though Smith’s previous record in the UK speaks for itself, the right-hander has his drawbacks. Pushing him to play on his non-scoring areas can help India gain an advantage, and so is the case with Marnus – who made his Test debut at Lord’s the last time.

Getting past them doesn’t guarantee success, with Tavis Head, Cameron Green and Alex Carey waiting in the wings – all capable of turning the game on its head&nbsp;on a given day. This is where India’s spin-bowling duo of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja comes into play, with one acting as an attacker and the other as a container.&nbsp;Both are capable of tearing into Australia's batting line-up.

<h3>Making the most of the strength</h3>

India’s strength lies in the top order which has often brought them success in overseas tours in recent years.&nbsp;The man on the top of his game, Shubman Gill, and Chesteshwar Pujara, who has&nbsp;spent most of his summer in England playing County for Sussex, will be instrumental in helping India take advantage early in the game.

Though the onus would again fall on veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to deliver with the bat, the returnee, Ajinkya Rahane, will also hold the key in dictating terms in the middle order.&nbsp;

Since India is missing two sure-starters – Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant – who is the master of this format, bringing in another left-hander, Ishan Kishan, could surprise the Aussie attack. With Jadeja doing wonders with the bat and Ashwin being the steady head as always, India will have cushion down the order even if Kishan’s experiment fails.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-were-selfish-characters-englands-steven-harmison-makes-bold-claims-about-ex-teammates-599070">'They were selfish characters' – England's Steven Harmison makes bold claims about ex-teammates</a>

Now, since neither Umesh Yadav nor Jaydev Unadkat’s injury status is clear, Rohit might be tempted to play seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur as the third bowler. The plus point of having him is his golden arm and the ability to stick around and smash a few blows, if and when needed.

<h3>What should be India’s best XI?</h3>

It is a big question, what should be India’s best XI for the WTC Final?

With Shubman and Rohit sure to open, Pujara will come in at three, with&nbsp;Virat Kohli following&nbsp;him at four. At number five will be Ajinkya Rahane, returning to the Test side after a gap of more than two years.&nbsp;

Coming off from a fantastic season with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Jadeja will bat at six, while India might hand Ishan Kishan his debut Test cap in this all-important clash.&nbsp;

Ravi Ashwin will fill the number eighth spot, whereas, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj shall be India’s three seamers.&nbsp;

This XI not only looks daunting on paper, but it also provides the stability that the Indian team was missing during the crunch matches in the past.

Given that they are confident in their quest to beat&nbsp;Australia in the WTC Final, Rohit Sharma can script history if all three departments&nbsp;click&nbsp;in the game.&nbsp;

The match starts on June 7th at the Oval in London.&nbsp;

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June 23rd, 2013, was the last time an Indian team stood on top of the podium holding an ICC trophy. Ten years apart, the situation remains the same. Indian cricket might have attained unbelievable heights in the past decade, but what didn’t change – was the trophy status.

June 23rd, 2013, was the last time an Indian team stood on top of the podium holding an ICC trophy. Ten years apart, the situation remains the same. Indian cricket might have attained unbelievable heights in the past decade, but what didn’t change – was the trophy status. This year, the Indian team has another chance to put everything behind and march towards a more glorified future. On June 7th at the Oval in London, the Indian team will be up against the mighty Australians for the World Test Championship trophy. Having lost the chance to win the inaugural edition against New Zealand two years ago in Southampton, the Rohit Sharma-led side will aim to end the ICC trophy drought this time. ALSO READ: Play the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka or pull out: ACC to PCB - Reports But for that, they have to beat Australia. And how do you beat Australia in an ICC knockout game? Considering India’s not-so-good record against the Oz in knockouts across formats, India will need to up their game to ensure they cross the line this time. The Indian team is stacked with match-winners, be it in batting, bowling or even the all-rounder's category. Banking on Australia’s weakness To begin with, let’s see what loopholes India can exploit in those seaming conditions in the UK. Australia’s opening pair of David Warner and Usman Khawaja haven’t had the best success against the moving ball, particularly Warner - who has visibly struggled against the seaming deliveries early on. If the new ball pair of Mohammed Siraj and Shami continues to trouble them on those lines, India can get off to a blinder, irrespective of the match situation. After them comes India’s biggest challenge – how to get rid of the number one Test batter Marnus Labuschagne and Australia’s best player in England, Steve Smith? Even though Smith’s previous record in the UK speaks for itself, the right-hander has his drawbacks. Pushing him to play on his non-scoring areas can help India gain an advantage, and so is the case with Marnus – who made his Test debut at Lord’s the last time. Getting past them doesn’t guarantee success, with Tavis Head, Cameron Green and Alex Carey waiting in the wings – all capable of turning the game on its head on a given day. This is where India’s spin-bowling duo of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja comes into play, with one acting as an attacker and the other as a container. Both are capable of tearing into Australia's batting line-up. Making the most of the strength India’s strength lies in the top order which has often brought them success in overseas tours in recent years. The man on the top of his game, Shubman Gill, and Chesteshwar Pujara, who has spent most of his summer in England playing County for Sussex, will be instrumental in helping India take advantage early in the game. Though the onus would again fall on veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to deliver with the bat, the returnee, Ajinkya Rahane, will also hold the key in dictating terms in the middle order. Since India is missing two sure-starters – Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant – who is the master of this format, bringing in another left-hander, Ishan Kishan, could surprise the Aussie attack. With Jadeja doing wonders with the bat and Ashwin being the steady head as always, India will have cushion down the order even if Kishan’s experiment fails. ALSO READ: 'They were selfish characters' – England's Steven Harmison makes bold claims about ex-teammates Now, since neither Umesh Yadav nor Jaydev Unadkat’s injury status is clear, Rohit might be tempted to play seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur as the third bowler. The plus point of having him is his golden arm and the ability to stick around and smash a few blows, if and when needed. What should be India’s best XI? It is a big question, what should be India’s best XI for the WTC Final? With Shubman and Rohit sure to open, Pujara will come in at three, with Virat Kohli following him at four. At number five will be Ajinkya Rahane, returning to the Test side after a gap of more than two years. Coming off from a fantastic season with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Jadeja will bat at six, while India might hand Ishan Kishan his debut Test cap in this all-important clash. Ravi Ashwin will fill the number eighth spot, whereas, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj shall be India’s three seamers. This XI not only looks daunting on paper, but it also provides the stability that the Indian team was missing during the crunch matches in the past. Given that they are confident in their quest to beat Australia in the WTC Final, Rohit Sharma can script history if all three departments click in the game. The match starts on June 7th at the Oval in London. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXPLAINED - How India can beat Australia and win the World Test Championship Final

With the conclusion of IPL 2023, Indian players have now shifted their focus to the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where they will take on the No. 1 ranked Australian team in a bid to end their ten-year-long ICC-title drought. Switching from white ball to red ball won't be easy for the Indian players but spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel said that the WTC final-bound players practised with Dukes ball even during IPL 16.

"So even during the IPL, it was discussed that we will bowl with the red ball. We had red balls, so we were using them. You know when and how to play, how much time you have. This mental switch from white ball to red ball is obviously tough, but we have enough time," Patel told ICC.

<h2>'During the IPL, we ordered....'</h2>

Axar further added, "The difference is the Dukes ball remains shinier for longer. But during the IPL, we had ordered the ball, so were practising with it and have gotten used to it." It is to be noted that Indian players arrived in the United Kingdom in different batches for the forthcoming WTC final. The players who were out of the IPL left first and were followed by the ones whose teams bowed out in the playoffs. The likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Shubman Gill, etc. arrived in the last batch after IPL 2023 final ended in the early hours on Tuesday (May 30).

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/cricket/wtc-final-indians-with-most-wickets-in-tests-vs-australia-ashwin-jadeja-kumble-harbhajan-kapil-1685603976795">WTC Final: Indians with most wickets in Tests versus Australia</a>

India will lock horns with Australia at the iconic Kennington Oval, London on June 07 for the marquee clash. In the inaugural WTC final, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team lost to New Zealand by eight wickets, in Southampton, and, hence, would be eager to win the Test mace this time around.

India's final squad for WTC final versus Australia

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk)

Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav

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With the conclusion of IPL 2023, Indian players have now shifted their focus to the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where they will take on the No.

With the conclusion of IPL 2023, Indian players have now shifted their focus to the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where they will take on the No. 1 ranked Australian team in a bid to end their ten-year-long ICC-title drought. Switching from white ball to red ball won't be easy for the Indian players but spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel said that the WTC final-bound players practised with Dukes ball even during IPL 16. "So even during the IPL, it was discussed that we will bowl with the red ball. We had red balls, so we were using them. You know when and how to play, how much time you have. This mental switch from white ball to red ball is obviously tough, but we have enough time," Patel told ICC. 'During the IPL, we ordered....' Axar further added, "The difference is the Dukes ball remains shinier for longer. But during the IPL, we had ordered the ball, so were practising with it and have gotten used to it." It is to be noted that Indian players arrived in the United Kingdom in different batches for the forthcoming WTC final. The players who were out of the IPL left first and were followed by the ones whose teams bowed out in the playoffs. The likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Shubman Gill, etc. arrived in the last batch after IPL 2023 final ended in the early hours on Tuesday (May 30). Also Read: WTC Final: Indians with most wickets in Tests versus Australia India will lock horns with Australia at the iconic Kennington Oval, London on June 07 for the marquee clash. In the inaugural WTC final, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team lost to New Zealand by eight wickets, in Southampton, and, hence, would be eager to win the Test mace this time around. India's final squad for WTC final versus Australia Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk) Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

WTC Final: Indian players practised with Dukes ball during IPL 2023, reveals Axar Patel ahead of marquee tie

There is a good news coming from the Aussie camp as we near the start of the World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at the Oval in London. Star seamer Josh Hazlewood believes he has a realistic chance of breaking into the playing XI for the India tie following almost attaining full fitness.

Hazlewood has had a troubled time with injuries for the past six months at least. After getting ruled out of the final home Test of the season against South Africa at the SCG, Hazlewood missed the entire India tour, which included the four-match Border-Gavaskar series and the three ODIs that followed due to an Achilles issue.

Because of the same reason, he joined his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore late in mid-April and, even then, could play just three games in the season. The Aussie quick left the tournament early, complaining about soreness in his left side.

Upon joining the Australia team before leaving for the UK for the WTC Final and then the Ashes, Hazlewood bowled a bit in Sydney. After the team landed in West Lancashire, Josh went about his business in the nets&nbsp;bowling in rhythm.

With a few of the former players, including Ponting, revealing their Australia XI for the WTC Final, dropping Hazlewood for Scott Boland, Josh believes he is doing fine fitness-wise, and after he takes the heavy workload in the nets in the coming days, it will be&nbsp;decided if he gets his chance or not.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/injured-rashid-khan-to-miss-first-two-odis-against-sri-lanka-likely-to-return-for-final-one-dayer-acb-598984">Injured Rashid Khan to miss first two ODIs against Sri Lanka, likely to return for final One-Dayer - ACB</a>

<h2>Hazlewood confident of playing in WTC Final</h2>

"My fitness is pretty good," Hazlewood said while speaking with the ICC. "It is just a matter of ticking off every session from here until that date basically."

"In T20, you are bowling a lot of various different balls every over. A wide yorker to a bouncer to a slower ball, and [the side] just got jammed up a little bit, and a bit of scar tissue from previous injuries flared up."

"It calmed down pretty quickly. I had a week off, I didn't quite get back to going 100 per cent at [the] IPL, but the last few bowls have been good, and I have been building up nicely," he added.

Earlier, the Aussie team trained at Formby and will now hold a three-day camp at Beckenham. Hazlewood, who is&nbsp;fighting for that one spot with Boland, will likely get through two solid bowling sessions – one on Thursday and then on Saturday before the management takes a final call on the playing XI.

Following the one-off Test for the coveted trophy, Australia will play the Ashes, starting June 16th in Edgbaston. 
&nbsp;

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There is a good news coming from the Aussie camp as we near the start of the World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at the Oval in London. Star seamer Josh Hazlewood believes he has a realistic chance of breaking into the playing XI for the India tie following almost attaining full fitness.

There is a good news coming from the Aussie camp as we near the start of the World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at the Oval in London. Star seamer Josh Hazlewood believes he has a realistic chance of breaking into the playing XI for the India tie following almost attaining full fitness. Hazlewood has had a troubled time with injuries for the past six months at least. After getting ruled out of the final home Test of the season against South Africa at the SCG, Hazlewood missed the entire India tour, which included the four-match Border-Gavaskar series and the three ODIs that followed due to an Achilles issue. Because of the same reason, he joined his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore late in mid-April and, even then, could play just three games in the season. The Aussie quick left the tournament early, complaining about soreness in his left side. Upon joining the Australia team before leaving for the UK for the WTC Final and then the Ashes, Hazlewood bowled a bit in Sydney. After the team landed in West Lancashire, Josh went about his business in the nets bowling in rhythm. With a few of the former players, including Ponting, revealing their Australia XI for the WTC Final, dropping Hazlewood for Scott Boland, Josh believes he is doing fine fitness-wise, and after he takes the heavy workload in the nets in the coming days, it will be decided if he gets his chance or not. ALSO READ: Injured Rashid Khan to miss first two ODIs against Sri Lanka, likely to return for final One-Dayer - ACB Hazlewood confident of playing in WTC Final "My fitness is pretty good," Hazlewood said while speaking with the ICC. "It is just a matter of ticking off every session from here until that date basically." "In T20, you are bowling a lot of various different balls every over. A wide yorker to a bouncer to a slower ball, and [the side] just got jammed up a little bit, and a bit of scar tissue from previous injuries flared up." "It calmed down pretty quickly. I had a week off, I didn't quite get back to going 100 per cent at [the] IPL, but the last few bowls have been good, and I have been building up nicely," he added. Earlier, the Aussie team trained at Formby and will now hold a three-day camp at Beckenham. Hazlewood, who is fighting for that one spot with Boland, will likely get through two solid bowling sessions – one on Thursday and then on Saturday before the management takes a final call on the playing XI. Following the one-off Test for the coveted trophy, Australia will play the Ashes, starting June 16th in Edgbaston. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final – 'My fitness is pretty good': Josh Hazlewood on his chances of breaking into XI for India tie

India vs Australia, WTC 2023 Final: Team India's road to the summit clash

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan to play ahead of KS Bharat in the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London. Calling him someone who, like Rishabh Pant, can change gears and put any opposition under pressure, Ponting sees no reason why Kishan can't make his Test debut in the all-important clash.

Although the left-handed Kishan was among the runs in the ongoing IPL 2023, scoring 454 from 16 games at a strike rate of above 140, he still falls behind Bharat in the pecking order – who played all four Tests earlier during the Border-Gavaskar series.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/blow-to-pakistan-sri-lanka-enter-race-to-host-asia-cup-2023-on-short-notice-597874">Blow to Pakistan! Sri Lanka enter race to host Asia Cup 2023 on 'short notice'</a>

Also, in the absence of KL Rahul - the makeshift keeper in ODIs, the wicketkeeping situation gets tricky for Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid. While the consensus says India might go ahead with Bharat for that one spot, many feel, including Ponting, that going with Kishan will be a better choice. &nbsp;

"If I was them [India], knowing the importance of this game - and you have to win this Test match - I'd be going with Ishan Kishan in this game," Ponting said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"He provides that little bit of X-factor that you need when you might be pushing for a win in a Test match. Obviously, if Rishabh Pant is fit, he is playing, and he provides that X-factor for India. But with him not being there, and this is no blot on Bharat whatsoever, I think Kishan just provides that little bit more X-factor, who'd do a good job with the gloves but can provide that really high-scoring run rate that is required in a one-off Test match to push for a win,” Ponting added.

Ponting said considering what is at stake and this one-off Test is all to play for, he would rather play all the x-factors to ensure India puts Australia under pressure and take the game home.

"I'd be going with as many X-factor players as I could and put some real pressure back on Australia," Ricky further opined.

Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav, two x-factors in Ponting’s eyes, were part of the BGT earlier that India won 2-1. While Surya played the Nagpur Test, and scored eight runs in the only inning he batted in, Ishan warmed the benches during the series.&nbsp;

Although Ishan is considered to be a better white-ball player, given his recent exploits, wherein he became the fourth Indian batter to complete two hundred runs in an ODI inning recently, his first-class numbers read 2985 runs in 48 matches, averaging 38.76 - which are good enough to push for a case in the XI against the mighty Aussies.

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Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan to play ahead of KS Bharat in the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan to play ahead of KS Bharat in the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London. Calling him someone who, like Rishabh Pant, can change gears and put any opposition under pressure, Ponting sees no reason why Kishan can't make his Test debut in the all-important clash. Although the left-handed Kishan was among the runs in the ongoing IPL 2023, scoring 454 from 16 games at a strike rate of above 140, he still falls behind Bharat in the pecking order – who played all four Tests earlier during the Border-Gavaskar series. ALSO READ: Blow to Pakistan! Sri Lanka enter race to host Asia Cup 2023 on 'short notice' Also, in the absence of KL Rahul - the makeshift keeper in ODIs, the wicketkeeping situation gets tricky for Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid. While the consensus says India might go ahead with Bharat for that one spot, many feel, including Ponting, that going with Kishan will be a better choice. "If I was them [India], knowing the importance of this game - and you have to win this Test match - I'd be going with Ishan Kishan in this game," Ponting said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. "He provides that little bit of X-factor that you need when you might be pushing for a win in a Test match. Obviously, if Rishabh Pant is fit, he is playing, and he provides that X-factor for India. But with him not being there, and this is no blot on Bharat whatsoever, I think Kishan just provides that little bit more X-factor, who'd do a good job with the gloves but can provide that really high-scoring run rate that is required in a one-off Test match to push for a win,” Ponting added. Ponting said considering what is at stake and this one-off Test is all to play for, he would rather play all the x-factors to ensure India puts Australia under pressure and take the game home. "I'd be going with as many X-factor players as I could and put some real pressure back on Australia," Ricky further opined. Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav, two x-factors in Ponting’s eyes, were part of the BGT earlier that India won 2-1. While Surya played the Nagpur Test, and scored eight runs in the only inning he batted in, Ishan warmed the benches during the series. Although Ishan is considered to be a better white-ball player, given his recent exploits, wherein he became the fourth Indian batter to complete two hundred runs in an ODI inning recently, his first-class numbers read 2985 runs in 48 matches, averaging 38.76 - which are good enough to push for a case in the XI against the mighty Aussies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'X-factor' Ishan Kishan can put Australia under pressure in WTC Final, says Ricky Ponting

Who knows about a comeback better than Dinesh Karthik? Having returned to the white-ball setup twice following a dismal run on the international stage, Karthik has vouched for Ajinkya Rahane – who, after getting dropped from the Test side in 2021, has been picked up for the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London.

Who knows about a comeback better than Dinesh Karthik? Having returned to the white-ball setup twice following a dismal run on the international stage, Karthik has vouched for Ajinkya Rahane – who, after getting dropped from the Test side in 2021, has been picked up for the World Test Championship Final, starting June 7th at the Oval in London. Following a path-breaking season with Chennai Super Kings, where Rahane – who was bought for just INR 50 lakhs, turned heads with his stellar performances earlier in the tournament. Be it for his fastest fifty of IPL 2023 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede or his 28-ball 70 against Kolkata Knight Riders in an away clash, Rahane proved he still has the Midas touch. ALSO READ: WTC Final: Australia announce 15-man squad for India clash, Hazlewood picked, Marsh, Renshaw in reserves Rahane's impressive run at the number three spot for CSK did wonders for him and the franchise - who, for the 10th time in IPL history, reached the finale where they will take on defending champions Gujarat Titans on Monday, May 29th – a reserve day in Ahmedabad, after the game washed out on Sunday. It was after those match-winning performances only when Rahane got a surprised call-up to the Test side for the WTC Final against India. With regular middle-order players like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer out injured, this chance came as a blessing in disguise for Rahane, who cannot wait to continue doing what he does best – which is batting with the flare in the UK. The world is ready for Rahane 2.0 Speaking with ICC, Karthik said Rahane has his mojo back and looks in good rhythm, and considering his history in SENA countries, he can deliver for the team. "I think he has got his mojo back. He is in good rhythm, he is in good confidence, and he is always known to do well outside India. It is going to be a very important six to eight months for his career in Test cricket,” Dinesh Karthik told ICC. "He has done so well for CSK when he came back. The way that he has batted, the intent that he has shown, he has shown that he is in a good mind space and that is something that is very important for the batter," the keeper-batter added. While most of the Indian players have already reached the UK, others will leave for London after the IPL 2023 final. Here is India’s squad for the WTC Final 2023 – Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk) Standbys: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: Karthik backs Rahane to turn heads against Australia, claims coming 8-9 months are crucial for him

After days of speculation, Australia has finally named the 15-man squad for the World Test Championship Final against India, starting June 7th at the Oval in London.

After days of speculation, Australia has finally named the 15-man squad for the World Test Championship Final against India, starting June 7th at the Oval in London. Australia picked experienced seamer Josh Hazlewood after the latest reports stated he has no serious damage following an early exit from IPL 2023 due to soreness. The Oz have kept all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and batter Matthew Renshaw as part of the reserves. While uncapped keeper-batter Josh Inglis has also been picked, Australia have moved the pace bowling duo of Michael Neser and Sean Abbott as net bowlers – with Neser tipped to replace Hazlewood in the team if required. Todd Murphy, the off-spinner who made his Test debut against India earlier during the away Border-Gavaskar series, is also included in the 15-man squad alongside veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. ALSO READ: WTC Final: RR sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal to take Ruturaj Gaikwad's place after impressive IPL 2023 season Fast bowlers include captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood and Scott Boland, while Steve Smith, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Harris are among the batters. Alex Carey will share wicketkeeping duties with Inglis. Travis Head is there as the lone all-rounder in the 15-man squad. Meanwhile, on the India front, Ishan Kishan and Jaydev Unadkat – two players who left IPL with injuries, are still registered as part of the 15-man squad. Earlier, as reported, the first batch of seven Indian players alongside Rahul Dravid-led team management had already reached London, whereas, the second batch of players, which will also include captain Rohit Sharma, will reach the UK soon. Other than them, the last batch to reach the UK will include players like Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja – all of whom are currently involved in the IPL 2023 final. Cheteshwar Pujara, who is already in England playing County Championship for Sussex, will join the squad there only. Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal replaced Ruturaj Gaikwad in the reserves for this particular clash. Here are 15-man squads of both teams – Australia - Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Steven Smith (vice-captain), Mitchell Starc, David Warner Standbys: Mitchell Marsh, Matt Renshaw India – Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk) Standbys: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: Australia announce 15-man squad for India clash, Hazlewood picked, Marsh, Renshaw in reserves

Former Aussie batter Michael Hussey feels that for India to dominate in the World Test Championship Final, the veteran pair of Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma must click with the bat.

Former Aussie batter Michael Hussey feels that for India to dominate in the World Test Championship Final, the veteran pair of Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma must click with the bat. Hussey said considering the match is being played in the UK (at the Oval in London), starting on June 7th, the conditions will be a lot different than that in India – where Australia lost the Border-Gavaskar series for the third straight time in March early this year. Speaking to ICC ahead of the mouth-watering clash for the coveted WTC trophy, Hussey shared his views on how India could take down the star-studded Aussie attack in the conditions that ought to favour seamers than spinners. Having played alongside the two match winners, Kohli and Rohit, Hussey knows what they can do on a big day. ALSO READ: WTC Final 2023-10 days to go: ICC announces prize money for India vs Australia WTC final | Details "It’s hard to see past Virat Kohli," Michael Hussey told the ICC. "He (Kohli) is obviously coming back into some great form again in all forms of the game really, so both he and Rohit Sharma with the bat are going to be important for India." While the Australian team also have their arsenal ready for the all-important Test, Hussey feels it's Australia's bowling that will trouble the Indians. With skipper Pat Cummins, legendary Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon sure to start, the Oz will have a handy line-up, to begin with. Having said that, Mr Cricket – as fans used to call Hussey during his playing days, added India also has equally good bowlers in Mohammed Shami and Siraj and the ever-reliable spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, and for Australia to stay on top of them by the end of the Test, they need to be at their best. "It is going to be played in England, so English conditions will be different to the recent series in India, so I think the fast bowlers are going to be important," Hussey said. "Pat Cummins (is key for Australia) and Josh Hazlewood might be fit again, which would be nice for Australia. "But India have got so many great bowlers as well. You’ve got (Mohammed) Siraj and (Mohammed) Shami and obviously the spinners with (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Ravichandran) Ashwin as well. It’s a world-class attack, and the Aussies are going to have to be at their best to beat them," Hussey added. A fantastic match is sure to be at our disposal – Hussey Hussey, who had been part of many memorable matches in his career, expects this heavyweight tie to deliver the expectations. The left-handed batter, now working as a batting coach with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, expects a fantastic match to be at everyone's disposal. "I just want to see two great teams go head-to-head and see who comes out on top. We just want to see good, hard, fair cricket, and whoever comes out on top deserves to. And it should be a fantastic match," Hussey concluded. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: Michael Hussey backs Virat Kohli to come good with bat, expects Rohit to dictate terms early on

Cricket’s governing body – the ICC, on Friday, May 26th, announced the prize pot for the World Test Championship 2023 cycle, with the winner set to bag a whopping $1.

Cricket’s governing body – the ICC, on Friday, May 26th, announced the prize pot for the World Test Championship 2023 cycle, with the winner set to bag a whopping $1.6 million. As India and Australia will face off for the second WTC Final on June 7th at the Oval in London, the ICC listed out how much each of the nine teams, ranking-wise, will earn out of a total of $3.8 million. This figure remains the same as that of the first cycle during 2019-2021, where Kane Williamson-led New Zealand took the first spot after beating India by eight wickets in a rain-marred game in Southampton. While the winner of the two will also earn $1.6 million this time, the team coming second will earn $800,000. As per the ICC’s list, South Africa, who stood third, will pocket $450,000, whereas, England – the ranked-four team will take home $350,000. ALSO READ: Shaheen Afridi rues getting injured at a wrong time during last year's T20 World Cup final against England Placed fifth on the list, The Islanders - Sri Lanka, who until the end, were in the race to dethrone India for that vacant second spot, will earn $200,000, while the remaining teams New Zealand (No.6), Pakistan (No.7), West Indies (No.8), and Bangladesh (No.9) will get a reward sum of $100,000 each. India and Australia players to arrive in the UK for WTC Final As reported earlier, the first batch of the Indian team, including players like Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav, alongside Rahul Dravid-led support staff and team management, have already arrived in the UK for the WTC Final. Others, most of whom are part of the ongoing IPL 2023 playoffs, will join in following the final on May 28th. Whereas, Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, who is already in England playing in the County Championship for Sussex, will join the squad in London. The Australian team, who has an extended away winter to spend in the UK owing to the WTC Final and then the Ashes, will also arrive in the country around this week. Here are India and Australia squads for WTC Final – India - Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishan Kishan, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat Australia – Pat Cummins (Captain), Steve Smith, David Warner, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Harris, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and Todd Murphy WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final 2023: ICC announces prize money, winner to take home a whopping $1.6 million

For the second straight time, the Indian Cricket Team reached the finals of the World Test Championship, having previously lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the inaugural edition two years ago in Southampton. India edged past South Africa in a tight race for the second spot following a 2-1 win over ranked-first side Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series early this year.

With most players currently involved in the IPL 2023 playoffs, seven of the 15-man squad had already flown to the UK for the WTC Final 2023, which starts on June 7th at Oval, London.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the high-octane clash against Australia, Indian captain Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts on the side's successful run to the top and how they coped with the 2021 loss at the hands of Kiwis.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-2023-final-ravi-shastri-backs-ajinkya-rahanes-selection-for-one-off-contest-says-hes-earned-his-place-595966">WTC 2023 Final: Ravi Shastri backs Ajinkya Rahane's selection for one-off contest, says he's earned his place</a>

“After the World Test Championship (2021 final) in Southampton, we quickly had to regroup and get ready for the next cycle,” Rohit said in a video posted by BCCI on its website.&nbsp;

“I thought in that cycle, we played some really, really tough cricket. We were challenged a lot of times, and I thought to come out of that was obviously going to take a lot of character from not just a few individuals, but everyone.”

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

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From Nottingham to Ahmedabad 🏟️ 
 
A journey of grit, determination, pride and teamwork 👏🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> 🇮🇳 members relive a remarkable journey of reaching the WTC Final for the second time 👌🏻👌🏻 - By <a href="https://twitter.com/RajalArora?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RajalArora</a> 
 
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<h2>Absentees must get credited for this successful run</h2>

India's run to the top in this WTC cycle saw several match-winning performances from a few individuals that are not available now. As per Rohit, Cheteshwar Pujara - who is currently plying his trade in the County Championship, and Ravi Ashwin, they need to be thanked for their efforts.

Considering India is missing services of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer - all of whom are nursing respective injuries and are out for an indefinite period, Pujara said they must be credited, alongside everyone in the team, for the collective effort that led the side to this point.

“There have been many players who have contributed to the team. Some of them are not part of this squad currently, but it’s important that we recognise all the players that have contributed in this cycle,” Pujara said.

“It’s been a great team effort… the team management, captain, everyone has been looking forward to this moment where we qualify for the WTC finals and the guys are really excited to play at The Oval. We’ve got some good memories playing against England in UK. Overall, if I look at the last couple of years, it’s been a very good journey for the Indian Test team,” Ravi Ashwin added.

Meanwhile, the second batch of Indian players will fly after the end of IPL 2023, which finishes with the final on May 28th.

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For the second straight time, the Indian Cricket Team reached the finals of the World Test Championship, having previously lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the inaugural edition two years ago in Southampton.

For the second straight time, the Indian Cricket Team reached the finals of the World Test Championship, having previously lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the inaugural edition two years ago in Southampton. India edged past South Africa in a tight race for the second spot following a 2-1 win over ranked-first side Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series early this year. With most players currently involved in the IPL 2023 playoffs, seven of the 15-man squad had already flown to the UK for the WTC Final 2023, which starts on June 7th at Oval, London. Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the high-octane clash against Australia, Indian captain Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts on the side's successful run to the top and how they coped with the 2021 loss at the hands of Kiwis. ALSO READ: WTC 2023 Final: Ravi Shastri backs Ajinkya Rahane's selection for one-off contest, says he's earned his place “After the World Test Championship (2021 final) in Southampton, we quickly had to regroup and get ready for the next cycle,” Rohit said in a video posted by BCCI on its website. “I thought in that cycle, we played some really, really tough cricket. We were challenged a lot of times, and I thought to come out of that was obviously going to take a lot of character from not just a few individuals, but everyone.” WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: From Nottingham to Ahmedabad 🏟️ A journey of grit, determination, pride and teamwork 👏🏻#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 members relive a remarkable journey of reaching the WTC Final for the second time 👌🏻👌🏻 - By @RajalArora WATCH the full Video 🎥🔽 #WTC23 https://t.co/WVY41lVNNh pic.twitter.com/uOnBK74ADp — BCCI (@BCCI) May 24, 2023 × Absentees must get credited for this successful run India's run to the top in this WTC cycle saw several match-winning performances from a few individuals that are not available now. As per Rohit, Cheteshwar Pujara - who is currently plying his trade in the County Championship, and Ravi Ashwin, they need to be thanked for their efforts. Considering India is missing services of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer - all of whom are nursing respective injuries and are out for an indefinite period, Pujara said they must be credited, alongside everyone in the team, for the collective effort that led the side to this point. “There have been many players who have contributed to the team. Some of them are not part of this squad currently, but it’s important that we recognise all the players that have contributed in this cycle,” Pujara said. “It’s been a great team effort… the team management, captain, everyone has been looking forward to this moment where we qualify for the WTC finals and the guys are really excited to play at The Oval. We’ve got some good memories playing against England in UK. Overall, if I look at the last couple of years, it’s been a very good journey for the Indian Test team,” Ravi Ashwin added. Meanwhile, the second batch of Indian players will fly after the end of IPL 2023, which finishes with the final on May 28th. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final: 'Collective team effort led us here, boys are excited to face Australia,' says Rohit Sharma

Former Australian captain Allan Border has slammed Pat Cummins &amp; Co.'s decision to skip warm-up games before the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and Ashes 2023. The Australian Test team will lock horns with Team India in the forthcoming WTC final, to be held early next month at The Oval, London, which will be followed by the Ashes 2023 edition in the United Kingdom. Australia have backed out of playing warm-ups and will, instead, focus on a high-intensity training camp at Beckenham, including centre-wicket practice and net sessions.

However, Border -- who led Australia to their first ODI World Cup triumph in 1987 -- isn't impressed. He feels nothing can replace game time and feels the decision is 'risky' ahead of an ICC final and Ashes series versus arch-rivals England.

<h2>'NOTHING REPLACES GAME TIME'</h2>

"I don't care how hard you work in the nets, nothing replaces game time," Border told 'Fox Cricket'. He further opined, "It just doesn't feel right not to play any cricket leading into an Ashes series. I just think that's fraught with danger... there's something gnawing at me saying it's the wrong decision."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-shane-warne-passed-away-it-felt-like-we-indians-lost-one-of-our-own-pm-modi-recalls-aussie-legend-595530">When Shane Warne passed away, it felt like we Indians lost one of our own: PM Modi recalls Aussie legend</a>

"I'm really surprised we're just allowing the Ashes tour to be so condensed with no cricket between the games, but that's the way it is. I get it, we've got IPLs and T20s, I understand. The game's moved on. But I think there's an opportunity there for us to go to England early and play a couple of games... just to polish things off a bit," Border added.

Talking about Team India, players have started to leave for the UK in different batches as some of the WTC final-bound players are still involved in IPL 2023. Even Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will also skip warm-up matches due to the ongoing&nbsp;English County Championship. As the WTC is an ICC event, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is under no duty to organise practice matches for visiting teams.

Cummins-led Australia head into the WTC summit clash as the No. 1 ranked Test side. They lost their last Test series in the run-up to the finale to India, 2-1 in the subcontinent, but will be confident taking on India at the neutral venue.&nbsp;

Former Australian captain Allan Border has slammed Pat Cummins & Co.'s decision to skip warm-up games before the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and Ashes 2023.

Former Australian captain Allan Border has slammed Pat Cummins & Co.'s decision to skip warm-up games before the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and Ashes 2023. The Australian Test team will lock horns with Team India in the forthcoming WTC final, to be held early next month at The Oval, London, which will be followed by the Ashes 2023 edition in the United Kingdom. Australia have backed out of playing warm-ups and will, instead, focus on a high-intensity training camp at Beckenham, including centre-wicket practice and net sessions. However, Border -- who led Australia to their first ODI World Cup triumph in 1987 -- isn't impressed. He feels nothing can replace game time and feels the decision is 'risky' ahead of an ICC final and Ashes series versus arch-rivals England. 'NOTHING REPLACES GAME TIME' "I don't care how hard you work in the nets, nothing replaces game time," Border told 'Fox Cricket'. He further opined, "It just doesn't feel right not to play any cricket leading into an Ashes series. I just think that's fraught with danger... there's something gnawing at me saying it's the wrong decision." Also Read: When Shane Warne passed away, it felt like we Indians lost one of our own: PM Modi recalls Aussie legend "I'm really surprised we're just allowing the Ashes tour to be so condensed with no cricket between the games, but that's the way it is. I get it, we've got IPLs and T20s, I understand. The game's moved on. But I think there's an opportunity there for us to go to England early and play a couple of games... just to polish things off a bit," Border added. Talking about Team India, players have started to leave for the UK in different batches as some of the WTC final-bound players are still involved in IPL 2023. Even Rohit Sharma & Co. will also skip warm-up matches due to the ongoing English County Championship. As the WTC is an ICC event, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is under no duty to organise practice matches for visiting teams. Cummins-led Australia head into the WTC summit clash as the No. 1 ranked Test side. They lost their last Test series in the run-up to the finale to India, 2-1 in the subcontinent, but will be confident taking on India at the neutral venue.

'Don't care how...': Allan Border slams Australia's decision to skip warm-ups before WTC final, Ashes 2023

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Australia. While addressing the&nbsp;Indian diaspora at a special community event in Sydney, on Tuesday (May 23), he&nbsp;spoke at length on the cricketing ties between India and Australia. PM Modi lauded the cricketing relations between both countries and also recalled Australia's legendary spinner Shane Warne, who passed away in 2022. The late leg spinner died due to&nbsp;a suspected heart attack during a vacation in Thailand at the age of 52.

Warne is a legend of the gentlemen's game. He ended his illustrious career with 708 Test scalps - second-most in the format -- and 293 wickets in ODIs. He ended with a whopping 1,001 wickets in the international circuit and was part of Australia's victorious&nbsp;ODI World Cup campaigns in 1996 and 1999. He was the first captain to lift the IPL trophy, representing the Rajasthan Royals (RR), during the inaugural season in 2008. Warne was loved by many across the globe and created a huge fan base worldwide, especially in India. Thus, PM Modi recalled Warne while lauding the cricketing ties between India and Australia, ahead of next month's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between the two senior men's teams at The Oval, London.

<h2>PM Modi recalls late Shane Warne: His death felt like we Indians lost someone of our own</h2>

During his speech, PM Modi said, "Our cricketing ties have completed 75 years. The contest on-field is as exciting as our deep friendship off the field. This time, several Australian women cricketers participated in the first edition of the Women's Premier League."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-playing-at-home-is-big-advantage-but-harbhajan-opines-on-ms-dhoni-cos-qualifier-1-tie-vs-gt-595418">'CSK playing at home is big advantage but...': Harbhajan opines on MS Dhoni &amp; Co.'s Qualifier 1 tie vs GT</a>

He added, "India and Australia are not just friends during happy times. A true friend not just stands by you during your happy times, but also during tough ones too. Last year, when the legendary Shane Warne passed away, along with Australia, crores of Indians too mourned his demise. It felt like we have lost someone of our own."

Backing PM Modi's claims, India and Australia enjoy a healthy rivalry on the cricket field and maintain a strong cricketing relationship overall. Over the years, the two nations have been involved in several close encounters -- both in men's and women's cricket.&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma-led India and Pat Cummins' Australian Test team will lock horns in the WTC final which will be held at The Oval on June 07.

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India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Australia. While addressing the Indian diaspora at a special community event in Sydney, on Tuesday (May 23), he spoke at length on the cricketing ties between India and Australia.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Australia. While addressing the Indian diaspora at a special community event in Sydney, on Tuesday (May 23), he spoke at length on the cricketing ties between India and Australia. PM Modi lauded the cricketing relations between both countries and also recalled Australia's legendary spinner Shane Warne, who passed away in 2022. The late leg spinner died due to a suspected heart attack during a vacation in Thailand at the age of 52. Warne is a legend of the gentlemen's game. He ended his illustrious career with 708 Test scalps - second-most in the format -- and 293 wickets in ODIs. He ended with a whopping 1,001 wickets in the international circuit and was part of Australia's victorious ODI World Cup campaigns in 1996 and 1999. He was the first captain to lift the IPL trophy, representing the Rajasthan Royals (RR), during the inaugural season in 2008. Warne was loved by many across the globe and created a huge fan base worldwide, especially in India. Thus, PM Modi recalled Warne while lauding the cricketing ties between India and Australia, ahead of next month's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between the two senior men's teams at The Oval, London. PM Modi recalls late Shane Warne: His death felt like we Indians lost someone of our own During his speech, PM Modi said, "Our cricketing ties have completed 75 years. The contest on-field is as exciting as our deep friendship off the field. This time, several Australian women cricketers participated in the first edition of the Women's Premier League." Also Read: 'CSK playing at home is big advantage but...': Harbhajan opines on MS Dhoni & Co.'s Qualifier 1 tie vs GT He added, "India and Australia are not just friends during happy times. A true friend not just stands by you during your happy times, but also during tough ones too. Last year, when the legendary Shane Warne passed away, along with Australia, crores of Indians too mourned his demise. It felt like we have lost someone of our own." Backing PM Modi's claims, India and Australia enjoy a healthy rivalry on the cricket field and maintain a strong cricketing relationship overall. Over the years, the two nations have been involved in several close encounters -- both in men's and women's cricket. Rohit Sharma-led India and Pat Cummins' Australian Test team will lock horns in the WTC final which will be held at The Oval on June 07. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

When Shane Warne passed away, it felt like we Indians lost one of our own: PM Modi recalls Aussie legend

Virat Kohli scored his second straight ton during match 70 of IPL 2023, on Sunday (May 21), as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) faced the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bengaluru with an aim to win and enter the playoffs. Despite Kohli's 61-ball 101 not out, RCB went down in a must-win clash to lose by six wickets in the final over courtesy of Gujarat opener Shubman Gill's unbeaten 104.&nbsp;

During GT's run-chase, they were going strong courtesy of a splendid 123-run second-wicket stand between Gill and Vijay Shankar (35-ball 53).&nbsp;Vijaykumar Vyshak got rid of Shankar in the 16th over with Kohli completing the catch at the deep. While Kohli took the catch with ease,&nbsp;he hurt his knee and went out of the field. He never returned and watched his team bottle the must-win game in the end overs. Thus, RCB head coach Sanjay Bangar gave a massive update on Kohli's injury status after his team's elimination from IPL 2023.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-i-am-playing-my-best-virat-kohli-hits-back-after-criticism-over-strike-rate-594937">IPL 2023: 'I am playing my best:' Virat Kohli hits back after criticism over strike rate</a>

<h2>'Don't think there is anything serious'</h2>

"Yeah, he had a bit of a niggle in his knee. But I don't think there is anything serious. Having scored two back-to-back hundreds within a gap of 4 days. He is somebody who not only wants to contribute with the bat but even when he is fielding. He did a lot of running around. 40 overs a couple of days ago and today, for 35 overs he was on the field. He was giving his best. So it is going to bother at some point but I don't think it's anything serious," Bangar said in the post-match press conference.

After Kohli's end of campaign in IPL 2023 -- where he returned with&nbsp;639 runs at 139.82 including two centuries and six fifties -- he will next be seen in action in India's upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where they will face Australia early next month, at The Oval, London. For RCB, they finished sixth with seven wins and equal number of defeats in IPL 2023.

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Virat Kohli scored his second straight ton during match 70 of IPL 2023, on Sunday (May 21), as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) faced the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bengaluru with an aim to win and enter the playoffs.

Virat Kohli scored his second straight ton during match 70 of IPL 2023, on Sunday (May 21), as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) faced the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bengaluru with an aim to win and enter the playoffs. Despite Kohli's 61-ball 101 not out, RCB went down in a must-win clash to lose by six wickets in the final over courtesy of Gujarat opener Shubman Gill's unbeaten 104. During GT's run-chase, they were going strong courtesy of a splendid 123-run second-wicket stand between Gill and Vijay Shankar (35-ball 53). Vijaykumar Vyshak got rid of Shankar in the 16th over with Kohli completing the catch at the deep. While Kohli took the catch with ease, he hurt his knee and went out of the field. He never returned and watched his team bottle the must-win game in the end overs. Thus, RCB head coach Sanjay Bangar gave a massive update on Kohli's injury status after his team's elimination from IPL 2023. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'I am playing my best:' Virat Kohli hits back after criticism over strike rate 'Don't think there is anything serious' "Yeah, he had a bit of a niggle in his knee. But I don't think there is anything serious. Having scored two back-to-back hundreds within a gap of 4 days. He is somebody who not only wants to contribute with the bat but even when he is fielding. He did a lot of running around. 40 overs a couple of days ago and today, for 35 overs he was on the field. He was giving his best. So it is going to bother at some point but I don't think it's anything serious," Bangar said in the post-match press conference. After Kohli's end of campaign in IPL 2023 -- where he returned with 639 runs at 139.82 including two centuries and six fifties -- he will next be seen in action in India's upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where they will face Australia early next month, at The Oval, London. For RCB, they finished sixth with seven wins and equal number of defeats in IPL 2023. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

IPL 2023: RCB head coach Sanjay Bangar provides injury update for Virat Kohli ahead of WTC final

Former Aussie great Ian Chappell feels injuries to ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah and attacking keeper-batter Rishabh Pant will badly affect India as they gear up to take on Australia in the WTC final in June next month. Writing for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell said had the pair been fit, India would have started as favourites, but that's not the case now.

With both heavyweights of world cricket ready to battle for the ultimate glory in Tests, India and Australia have some issues to iron out before getting underway at Oval Cricket Ground on June 7th. Chappell further opines considering both teams haven't played a single Test since competing in the Border-Gavaskar series early this year, it is hard to predict a winner.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-james-anderson-admits-not-playing-all-five-tests-calls-captain-ben-stokes-a-born-leader-594486">Ashes 2023: James Anderson admits not playing all five Tests, calls captain Ben Stokes a born leader</a>

"As it should be, this is a hard match to predict. That's mainly because of injury concerns, and neither team has played a Test since completing a hard-fought series earlier this year. To make matters even more difficult, many of the players involved have only competed in the IPL in the lead-up to the one-off Test," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

Sharing his views on what makes him believe that Australia will start as favourites instead, Ian wrote,&nbsp;

"If Australia's classy pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are available, that makes them slight favourites. They are good bowlers any time, but England in early June should be right up their alley," Chappell said.

<h2>Mental strength will decide the winner - Ian Chappell</h2>

Chappell added both sides will come up their A-game, and unless the weather plays a spoilsport, the team who will show more resilience will take the game home.

"Mental strength will play a huge part in this Test. The team that displays the most resilience is likely to win as long as the contest is not unduly affected by bad weather. Being able to maintain a decent line and length under attack is now mandatory in the tougher series, and a fully fit Australian attack should benefit if the opposition are overzealous," Ian wrote.

However, looking into India's likely XI, there won't be match-winners in Bumrah and Pant, as both are out for an indefinite period owing to respective injuries, while Chappell feels their absence pulls India back regarding entering the contest as hot favourites.

"The injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant badly affect India, as they would be outright favourites with these two playing. The somewhat surprising unavailability of allrounder Hardik Pandya also harms India, as he could have provided them with the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle," Chappell said.

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Former Aussie great Ian Chappell feels injuries to ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah and attacking keeper-batter Rishabh Pant will badly affect India as they gear up to take on Australia in the WTC final in June next month.

Former Aussie great Ian Chappell feels injuries to ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah and attacking keeper-batter Rishabh Pant will badly affect India as they gear up to take on Australia in the WTC final in June next month. Writing for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell said had the pair been fit, India would have started as favourites, but that's not the case now. With both heavyweights of world cricket ready to battle for the ultimate glory in Tests, India and Australia have some issues to iron out before getting underway at Oval Cricket Ground on June 7th. Chappell further opines considering both teams haven't played a single Test since competing in the Border-Gavaskar series early this year, it is hard to predict a winner. ALSO READ: Ashes 2023: James Anderson admits not playing all five Tests, calls captain Ben Stokes a born leader "As it should be, this is a hard match to predict. That's mainly because of injury concerns, and neither team has played a Test since completing a hard-fought series earlier this year. To make matters even more difficult, many of the players involved have only competed in the IPL in the lead-up to the one-off Test," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo. Sharing his views on what makes him believe that Australia will start as favourites instead, Ian wrote, "If Australia's classy pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are available, that makes them slight favourites. They are good bowlers any time, but England in early June should be right up their alley," Chappell said. Mental strength will decide the winner - Ian Chappell Chappell added both sides will come up their A-game, and unless the weather plays a spoilsport, the team who will show more resilience will take the game home. "Mental strength will play a huge part in this Test. The team that displays the most resilience is likely to win as long as the contest is not unduly affected by bad weather. Being able to maintain a decent line and length under attack is now mandatory in the tougher series, and a fully fit Australian attack should benefit if the opposition are overzealous," Ian wrote. However, looking into India's likely XI, there won't be match-winners in Bumrah and Pant, as both are out for an indefinite period owing to respective injuries, while Chappell feels their absence pulls India back regarding entering the contest as hot favourites. "The injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant badly affect India, as they would be outright favourites with these two playing. The somewhat surprising unavailability of allrounder Hardik Pandya also harms India, as he could have provided them with the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle," Chappell said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WTC Final 2023: Injuries to Bumrah, Pant to badly affect India, Aussies to start as favourites - Ian Chappell

The World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the 2012-23 cycle is around the corner with both Australia and India ready to face off each other in England from June 7.

Both the countries have announced their respective squads for the marquee event and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting thinks that India should have included Suryakumar Yadav in its squad.

<h2>The premise for Ponting's comment</h2>

With injuries to players like KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumarh and Rishabh Pant, India are not at their best in terms of playing XI. The replacement for these players have been announced with veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane taking Rahul's place and Ishan Kishan for Rishabh Pant.

<h2>What did Ponting say?</h2>

Speaking at an event in New Delhi, the former Aussie skipper said 'yes' when asked if Suryakumar Yadav should have been in India's squad. Ponting, however, said that the presence of an Pant-like player could be the X-factor in WTC Final. Notably, Yadav is one of the three standby players announced by the BCCI.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-must-do-something-to-save-dying-test-format-bringing-in-more-money-could-attract-players-ricky-ponting-594417">ICC must do something to save dying Test format, bringing in more money could attract players - Ricky Ponting</a>

"But there is another X-factor that has just been added in Ishan Kishan. If you look at the way he plays, he is probably the most like Rishabh Pant with his potential to keep and bat in the middle order. If they do play those guys they should be given the right to play an aggressive brand of cricket," said Ponting.

"With the injury issues India have got, they can go with few different ways, especially in batting. Before Rahul's injury I had him in the eleven, now that he is not there, they need to pick Ishan or K S Bharat," said the three-time ODI World Cup winner," Ponting added further.

<h2>What could be India's best Playing XI?</h2>

India, more or less, have players finalized&nbsp;for its&nbsp;playing XI with just a couple of slots to fill. With Rahul out of the picture, skipper Rohit Sharma is expected to open with Shubman Gill. Cheteshwar Pujara seems a fix a number three followed by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane at number four and five, respectively.

For the wicketkeeper slot, India would have to choose from Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat. Ravindra Jadeja would likely to follow next as the first all-rounder alongside Shardul Thakur who may come in next.&nbsp;

Ravi Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami then would likely to be fill up the next three places in the playing XI.

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The World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the 2012-23 cycle is around the corner with both Australia and India ready to face off each other in England from June 7.

The World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the 2012-23 cycle is around the corner with both Australia and India ready to face off each other in England from June 7. Both the countries have announced their respective squads for the marquee event and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting thinks that India should have included Suryakumar Yadav in its squad. The premise for Ponting's comment With injuries to players like KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumarh and Rishabh Pant, India are not at their best in terms of playing XI. The replacement for these players have been announced with veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane taking Rahul's place and Ishan Kishan for Rishabh Pant. What did Ponting say? Speaking at an event in New Delhi, the former Aussie skipper said 'yes' when asked if Suryakumar Yadav should have been in India's squad. Ponting, however, said that the presence of an Pant-like player could be the X-factor in WTC Final. Notably, Yadav is one of the three standby players announced by the BCCI. Also Read: ICC must do something to save dying Test format, bringing in more money could attract players - Ricky Ponting "But there is another X-factor that has just been added in Ishan Kishan. If you look at the way he plays, he is probably the most like Rishabh Pant with his potential to keep and bat in the middle order. If they do play those guys they should be given the right to play an aggressive brand of cricket," said Ponting. "With the injury issues India have got, they can go with few different ways, especially in batting. Before Rahul's injury I had him in the eleven, now that he is not there, they need to pick Ishan or K S Bharat," said the three-time ODI World Cup winner," Ponting added further. What could be India's best Playing XI? India, more or less, have players finalized for its playing XI with just a couple of slots to fill. With Rahul out of the picture, skipper Rohit Sharma is expected to open with Shubman Gill. Cheteshwar Pujara seems a fix a number three followed by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane at number four and five, respectively. For the wicketkeeper slot, India would have to choose from Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat. Ravindra Jadeja would likely to follow next as the first all-rounder alongside Shardul Thakur who may come in next. Ravi Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami then would likely to be fill up the next three places in the playing XI. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ricky Ponting picks India's Pant-like 'X-factor' player for WTC Final

After the end of the ongoing IPL 2023 edition, the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final will be held between India and Australia at The Oval, London on June 07. After missing out on winning the inaugural cycle, losing the final&nbsp;to New Zealand, Team India will be desperate to get their hands on the elusive trophy.

India's WTC final-bound players will head to the United Kingdom soon after IPL 2023 where they will face Australia, the No. 1 ranked Test team. Ahead of the marquee finale, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting spoke at length&nbsp;at a WTC Final media scrum, on Friday (May 19) and revealed the Indian batter who will be the prize wicket for Australia.

<h2>'I'm sure Virat Kohli will be prize wicket for Australia in WTC final'</h2>

"I caught up with Virat about a month ago when we played them in Bangalore," said Ponting. "And I had a good chat to him about his batting and where he was at and his career. And he said to me then that he actually feels like he's almost back to his absolute best."

"You probably saw that last night (referring to Kohli's 6th IPL ton during the RCB-SRH tie in IPL 2023 on Thursday evening), you know, he's had a very good IPL and I'm sure he'll be the prize wicket that all the Australians are looking forward to," he further opined.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-care-virat-kohli-silences-critics-with-i-know-how-to-win-games-remark-after-6th-ipl-ton-watch-594058">'Don't care...': Virat Kohli silences critics with 'I know how to win games' remark after 6th IPL ton - Watch</a>

<h2>‘India's top order vs Australia's pacers’</h2>

Ponting asserted, "I think it'll be India's top order against Australia's fast bowling, It's a bit of a mouth-watering thought going forward."

"Generally, we think about the battles between India's spinners and Australia's batters. But will that be negated by the wicket at The Oval? Normally the wickets that I've played on at The Oval have started as really good batting wickets, and actually have offered a little bit to the spinners as the game's going on."

"That's what I'd like to see in this wicket - to have a really good contest on day four, day five, or maybe even day six, seeing how it's going," the Delhi Capitals (DC) coach added, who will be part of the commentary panel for the mega finale next month.

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After the end of the ongoing IPL 2023 edition, the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final will be held between India and Australia at The Oval, London on June 07.

After the end of the ongoing IPL 2023 edition, the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final will be held between India and Australia at The Oval, London on June 07. After missing out on winning the inaugural cycle, losing the final to New Zealand, Team India will be desperate to get their hands on the elusive trophy. India's WTC final-bound players will head to the United Kingdom soon after IPL 2023 where they will face Australia, the No. 1 ranked Test team. Ahead of the marquee finale, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting spoke at length at a WTC Final media scrum, on Friday (May 19) and revealed the Indian batter who will be the prize wicket for Australia. 'I'm sure Virat Kohli will be prize wicket for Australia in WTC final' "I caught up with Virat about a month ago when we played them in Bangalore," said Ponting. "And I had a good chat to him about his batting and where he was at and his career. And he said to me then that he actually feels like he's almost back to his absolute best." "You probably saw that last night (referring to Kohli's 6th IPL ton during the RCB-SRH tie in IPL 2023 on Thursday evening), you know, he's had a very good IPL and I'm sure he'll be the prize wicket that all the Australians are looking forward to," he further opined. Also Read: 'Don't care...': Virat Kohli silences critics with 'I know how to win games' remark after 6th IPL ton - Watch ‘India's top order vs Australia's pacers’ Ponting asserted, "I think it'll be India's top order against Australia's fast bowling, It's a bit of a mouth-watering thought going forward." "Generally, we think about the battles between India's spinners and Australia's batters. But will that be negated by the wicket at The Oval? Normally the wickets that I've played on at The Oval have started as really good batting wickets, and actually have offered a little bit to the spinners as the game's going on." "That's what I'd like to see in this wicket - to have a really good contest on day four, day five, or maybe even day six, seeing how it's going," the Delhi Capitals (DC) coach added, who will be part of the commentary panel for the mega finale next month. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'He will be the prize wicket for Australia in WTC final': Ricky Ponting lauds star Indian batter

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition will kick off and conclude in Ahmedabad. The opening match will be held on October 05 and is likely to see the 2019 edition's finalists England and New Zealand face each other. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will begin their campaign, in all likelihood in Chennai, against&nbsp;five-time winners Australia.

As per a report in Cricbuzz, the opening game is set to be held at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. Moreover, the report added that India will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan, at the same venue, on October 15, which is a Sunday. Similarly,&nbsp;the tournament finale will also be held in Ahmedabad on November 19 (Sunday).

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-south-africa-directly-qualify-after-bangladesh-ireland-match-abandoned-due-to-rain-590831">ODI World Cup: South Africa directly qualify after Bangladesh-Ireland match abandoned due to rain</a>

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It is to be noted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to reveal the much-awaited schedule of the showpiece event very soon, in a grand manner, after the end of the ongoing IPL 2023 edition.&nbsp;

Cricbuzz also confirmed that Pakistan have agreed to come to India for the mega event. Nonetheless, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reservations about playing their marquee encounter versus Team India in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. However, they have given the green signal to play the tournament final in Ahmedabad if Babar Azam &amp; Co. reach that far.

The Men in Green are likely to play their games in limited venues, such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai -- which hosted the 2011 WC final -- is a strong contender to host one of the semi-finals.&nbsp;

The tournament will comprise ten teams with 48 games overall. India, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and South Africa -- being the latest entrant -- have directly qualified whereas two more teams will join&nbsp;after the qualifiers in June-July.
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The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition will kick off and conclude in Ahmedabad. The opening match will be held on October 05 and is likely to see the 2019 edition's finalists England and New Zealand face each other.

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition will kick off and conclude in Ahmedabad. The opening match will be held on October 05 and is likely to see the 2019 edition's finalists England and New Zealand face each other. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will begin their campaign, in all likelihood in Chennai, against five-time winners Australia. As per a report in Cricbuzz, the opening game is set to be held at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. Moreover, the report added that India will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan, at the same venue, on October 15, which is a Sunday. Similarly, the tournament finale will also be held in Ahmedabad on November 19 (Sunday). Also Read: ODI World Cup: South Africa directly qualify after Bangladesh-Ireland match abandoned due to rain It is to be noted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to reveal the much-awaited schedule of the showpiece event very soon, in a grand manner, after the end of the ongoing IPL 2023 edition. Cricbuzz also confirmed that Pakistan have agreed to come to India for the mega event. Nonetheless, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reservations about playing their marquee encounter versus Team India in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. However, they have given the green signal to play the tournament final in Ahmedabad if Babar Azam & Co. reach that far. The Men in Green are likely to play their games in limited venues, such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai -- which hosted the 2011 WC final -- is a strong contender to host one of the semi-finals. The tournament will comprise ten teams with 48 games overall. India, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and South Africa -- being the latest entrant -- have directly qualified whereas two more teams will join after the qualifiers in June-July.

ODI WC: 2019 finalists Eng, NZ to play opener in Ahmedabad, India to kick off campaign vs Aus - Report

Former India domestic batter Amol Mazumdar has said that KL Rahul was never an option to replace Rishabh Pant in India's playing XI for WTC final vs Australia in England in June. The cricketer said the team needs a genuine wicket-keeper in English conditions and KL Rahul doesn't fit the bill.

“I'll stick with what I said. You need genuine keeper who can bat a little. KL Rahul was never an option, for me, at least, in Test matches. It's okay for T20 or a fifty-over match, but for Test – especially in England – where the ball nibbles around, you need a genuine keeper,” told Mazumdar to sports website ESPNCricinfo.

Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-mi-skipper-rohit-sharma-gets-out-on-0-vs-csk-tops-list-of-players-with-most-ducks-in-ipl-watch-589707">MI skipper Rohit Sharma gets out on 0 vs CSK, tops list of players with most ducks</a>

Notably, KL Rahul - who is skipper of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has been ruled out of the season and WTC final after picking up an injury in LSG match against RCB.

“Looking at the situation, what has happened to Rahul is unfortunate. But I would be inclined to include Ishan Kishan in the team, looking at his form. Why we talked about KL Rahul and KS Bharat… is because of the unfortunate incident to Rishabh Pant. Now, if you want a man-to-man replacement, you can't get any closer to Pant than Ishan Kishan. So, he comes into my team. He should be included,” Muzumdar added.

Rahul, while he played in the IPL 2023, couldn't create much of an impact as he scored only 274 runs in the nine matches at an average of 34.25 with a strike-rate of 113.22 Rahul, however, had scored two fifties this season with a highest score of 74. The LSG skipper was dropped from the Test team against Australia prior to IPL after playing in first two Tests.

Rahul's replacement Shubman Gill, meanwhile, scored a century in the two Tests he played, making it even difficult for Rahul to be a part playing XI in Tests for India.

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Former India domestic batter Amol Mazumdar has said that KL Rahul was never an option to replace Rishabh Pant in India's playing XI for WTC final vs Australia in England in June.

Former India domestic batter Amol Mazumdar has said that KL Rahul was never an option to replace Rishabh Pant in India's playing XI for WTC final vs Australia in England in June. The cricketer said the team needs a genuine wicket-keeper in English conditions and KL Rahul doesn't fit the bill. “I'll stick with what I said. You need genuine keeper who can bat a little. KL Rahul was never an option, for me, at least, in Test matches. It's okay for T20 or a fifty-over match, but for Test – especially in England – where the ball nibbles around, you need a genuine keeper,” told Mazumdar to sports website ESPNCricinfo. Also Watch: MI skipper Rohit Sharma gets out on 0 vs CSK, tops list of players with most ducks Notably, KL Rahul - who is skipper of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has been ruled out of the season and WTC final after picking up an injury in LSG match against RCB. “Looking at the situation, what has happened to Rahul is unfortunate. But I would be inclined to include Ishan Kishan in the team, looking at his form. Why we talked about KL Rahul and KS Bharat… is because of the unfortunate incident to Rishabh Pant. Now, if you want a man-to-man replacement, you can't get any closer to Pant than Ishan Kishan. So, he comes into my team. He should be included,” Muzumdar added. Rahul, while he played in the IPL 2023, couldn't create much of an impact as he scored only 274 runs in the nine matches at an average of 34.25 with a strike-rate of 113.22 Rahul, however, had scored two fifties this season with a highest score of 74. The LSG skipper was dropped from the Test team against Australia prior to IPL after playing in first two Tests. Rahul's replacement Shubman Gill, meanwhile, scored a century in the two Tests he played, making it even difficult for Rahul to be a part playing XI in Tests for India. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WTC Final: Former India domestic batter says KL Rahul was 'never an option' to be in playing XI

The ODI World Cup is set to be held in India later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy in preparations while also conducting the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition in the country. While it is being reported that the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad can host the India-Pakistan clash, it is noted that Team India have also asked for spin-friendly venues for some big games in the league stage.

As per a report in the Indian Express, Team India has asked for spin-friendly venues for their World Cup games versus Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/narendra-modi-stadium-in-ahmedabad-is-likely-to-host-india-vs-pakistan-2023-world-cup-clash-reports-589110">Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is likely to host India vs Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash - Reports</a>

Spin-to-win mantra for Rohit Sharma-led Team India?

“The Indian team has performed well on slow tracks in the past few years at home. So the team management had requested that whenever the schedule is being prepared the Indian team should face top teams on slow pitches. They wanted to have a home advantage,” a source in the BCCI said.

It is believed, as per the same report, that the BCCI will be announcing the forthcoming ODI&nbsp;World Cup schedule at a grand launch following the conclusion of IPL 2023.

This will be the first time that India will host the 50-over showpiece event entirely on its own. In 2011, India co-hosted the mega event, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and won the championship after 28 years. In the following two editions, the Men in Blue bowed out in the semi-finals.

The ODI World Cup is set to be held in India later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy in preparations while also conducting the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition in the country.

The ODI World Cup is set to be held in India later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy in preparations while also conducting the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition in the country. While it is being reported that the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad can host the India-Pakistan clash, it is noted that Team India have also asked for spin-friendly venues for some big games in the league stage. As per a report in the Indian Express, Team India has asked for spin-friendly venues for their World Cup games versus Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa. Also Read: Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is likely to host India vs Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash - Reports Spin-to-win mantra for Rohit Sharma-led Team India? “The Indian team has performed well on slow tracks in the past few years at home. So the team management had requested that whenever the schedule is being prepared the Indian team should face top teams on slow pitches. They wanted to have a home advantage,” a source in the BCCI said. It is believed, as per the same report, that the BCCI will be announcing the forthcoming ODI World Cup schedule at a grand launch following the conclusion of IPL 2023. This will be the first time that India will host the 50-over showpiece event entirely on its own. In 2011, India co-hosted the mega event, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and won the championship after 28 years. In the following two editions, the Men in Blue bowed out in the semi-finals.

ODI WC: Team India requests BCCI for spin-friendly venues vs Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa

Ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, Team India dethroned Australia to become the No. 1 Test team in the latest ICC Rankings released on Tuesday (May 02).&nbsp;The International Cricket Council announced the development and claimed that Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. moved up to take the top spot due to the annual rankings update, which changes weighage for older matches.

Australia&nbsp;remained the top-ranked side&nbsp;despite their&nbsp;2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy to India early this year with 122 points. However, they have now moved a spot below India, ending their 15-month-long stay at the top.&nbsp;

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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-dont-understand-why-kl-rahul-moody-opines-on-injured-lsg-skippers-batting-slot-vs-rcb-588176">IPL 2023: 'Don't understand why KL Rahul...': Moody opines on injured LSG skipper's batting slot vs RCB</a>

Meanwhile, India has reclaimed the top spot after a long time. They lost the numero uno position after losing the three-match Test series versus South Africa, going down by a 1-2 margin, early in 2022. The series defeat, in the African nation, also marked the end of Virat Kohli's Test captaincy tenure.

"The annual rankings consider all series completed since May 2020, with series completed before May 2022 weighted at 50 percent and all subsequent series weighted at 100 percent," ICC said in their release on Tuesday.

It is to be noted that there are no changes in the overall standings apart from India and Australia swapping spots. Ben Stokes-led England have, however, bridging the gap with second-ranked Australia with 114 points ahead of Ashes 2023, adding to the excitement for the forthcoming series in the United Kingdom soon after the WTC final.

Ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, Team India dethroned Australia to become the No. 1 Test team in the latest ICC Rankings released on Tuesday (May 02).

Ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, Team India dethroned Australia to become the No. 1 Test team in the latest ICC Rankings released on Tuesday (May 02). The International Cricket Council announced the development and claimed that Rohit Sharma & Co. moved up to take the top spot due to the annual rankings update, which changes weighage for older matches. Australia remained the top-ranked side despite their 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy to India early this year with 122 points. However, they have now moved a spot below India, ending their 15-month-long stay at the top. 🚨 New World No.1 🚨 India dethrone Australia in the annual update of the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men's Test Rankings ahead of the #WTC23 Final 👀 — ICC (@ICC) May 2, 2023 × Also read: IPL 2023: 'Don't understand why KL Rahul...': Moody opines on injured LSG skipper's batting slot vs RCB Meanwhile, India has reclaimed the top spot after a long time. They lost the numero uno position after losing the three-match Test series versus South Africa, going down by a 1-2 margin, early in 2022. The series defeat, in the African nation, also marked the end of Virat Kohli's Test captaincy tenure. "The annual rankings consider all series completed since May 2020, with series completed before May 2022 weighted at 50 percent and all subsequent series weighted at 100 percent," ICC said in their release on Tuesday. It is to be noted that there are no changes in the overall standings apart from India and Australia swapping spots. Ben Stokes-led England have, however, bridging the gap with second-ranked Australia with 114 points ahead of Ashes 2023, adding to the excitement for the forthcoming series in the United Kingdom soon after the WTC final.

ICC Rankings: India dethrone Australia to become No. 1 Test team ahead of WTC final face-off

Ahead of the India-Australia ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final face-off, which will take place early next month at The Oval, London, Cheteshwar Pujara and Steve Smith are set to play for Sussex. After Sussex acquired the Australian's services early this year -- with the batter&nbsp;to prepare for Ashes 2023 and WTC finale -- both Pujara and Smith will share the dressing room before they represent their respective sides in India-Australia's marquee face-off.

Pujara shared his excitement of playing along with Smith. The duo were part of the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, held in India, where Pujara-starrer India beat Smith's Australia 2-1.&nbsp;

"We have spoken, but most of the time we have played against each other. It is never for the same team, so it will be exciting to have him in the same side," Pujara was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-cricket-thrives-because-of-players-like-yashasvi-jaiswal-harbhajan-lauds-rrs-centurion-after-mi-tie-587792">Indian cricket thrives because of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal: Harbhajan lauds RR's centurion after MI tie</a>

Pujara further asserted, "I will try and get his thoughts, try and know him a little better. We will be playing the WTC final, so it will be mixed feelings. On the field we always have good battles, but off the field we are good friends."

"All of us are looking forward to having him here and sharing his experience. He has a lot of knowledge about the game so it will be nice to have his inputs," India's reliable No. 3&nbsp;concluded.

For Pujara, Sussex has been extremely lucky for him. After being dropped from India's Test squad early in 2022, he represented the club and amassed plenty of runs (1,094 in 13 County outings) to revive his red-ball career. In addition, he scored 624 runs in Royal London One-Day Cup last year (second-most overall) at a strike rate of 111.62. Overall, he ended the 2022 season with eight tons (five in County -- including a double ton --&nbsp;and three in the ODI tournament).

Pujara has already started the 2023 season on a high, with two centuries for Sussex in the ongoing&nbsp;County Championship Division Two.

Ahead of the India-Australia ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final face-off, which will take place early next month at The Oval, London, Cheteshwar Pujara and Steve Smith are set to play for Sussex.

Ahead of the India-Australia ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final face-off, which will take place early next month at The Oval, London, Cheteshwar Pujara and Steve Smith are set to play for Sussex. After Sussex acquired the Australian's services early this year -- with the batter to prepare for Ashes 2023 and WTC finale -- both Pujara and Smith will share the dressing room before they represent their respective sides in India-Australia's marquee face-off. Pujara shared his excitement of playing along with Smith. The duo were part of the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, held in India, where Pujara-starrer India beat Smith's Australia 2-1. "We have spoken, but most of the time we have played against each other. It is never for the same team, so it will be exciting to have him in the same side," Pujara was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. Also Read: Indian cricket thrives because of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal: Harbhajan lauds RR's centurion after MI tie Pujara further asserted, "I will try and get his thoughts, try and know him a little better. We will be playing the WTC final, so it will be mixed feelings. On the field we always have good battles, but off the field we are good friends." "All of us are looking forward to having him here and sharing his experience. He has a lot of knowledge about the game so it will be nice to have his inputs," India's reliable No. 3 concluded. For Pujara, Sussex has been extremely lucky for him. After being dropped from India's Test squad early in 2022, he represented the club and amassed plenty of runs (1,094 in 13 County outings) to revive his red-ball career. In addition, he scored 624 runs in Royal London One-Day Cup last year (second-most overall) at a strike rate of 111.62. Overall, he ended the 2022 season with eight tons (five in County -- including a double ton -- and three in the ODI tournament). Pujara has already started the 2023 season on a high, with two centuries for Sussex in the ongoing County Championship Division Two.

'Will try and know him a little better': Pujara excited to play with Steve Smith in Sussex before WTC final

Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25). Opting to bowl first, MI conceded 207 for 6 as Gujarat posted their highest total in the tournament. In reply, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. only managed 152 for 9 to lose by a whopping 55-run margin.

Rohit has had an ordinary run in IPL 2023. He has managed scores of&nbsp;1, 21, 65, 20, 28, 44 and 2 at an average of&nbsp;25.86. After MI's loss versus GT, their second in a row and fourth of the season, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has asked Rohit to opt for a short break and keep himself fresh for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, to be held at The Oval, London&nbsp;in early June.

"Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-defending-champions-gt-thrash-rohit-sharmas-mi-by-55-runs-take-second-spot-in-points-table-586107">IPL 2023: Defending champions GT thrash Rohit Sharma's MI by 55 runs, take second spot in points table</a>

It is highly unlikely that Rohit will take a break with MI currently languishing at the seventh spot in the points table. He might sit out for a few games if Mumbai confirms&nbsp;a slot in the last four. Or, if they fall flat in the upcoming games and are totally out of the playoffs race, then Rohit might be benched to keep himself fit&nbsp;for the WTC finale.

On Tuesday (April 25), the BCCI announced a 15-member squad for India's WTC summit clash versus Australia.&nbsp;

INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25).

Match 35 of the IPL 2023 edition saw the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) lose to the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 25). Opting to bowl first, MI conceded 207 for 6 as Gujarat posted their highest total in the tournament. In reply, Rohit Sharma & Co. only managed 152 for 9 to lose by a whopping 55-run margin. Rohit has had an ordinary run in IPL 2023. He has managed scores of 1, 21, 65, 20, 28, 44 and 2 at an average of 25.86. After MI's loss versus GT, their second in a row and fourth of the season, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has asked Rohit to opt for a short break and keep himself fresh for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, to be held at The Oval, London in early June. "Rohit Sharma should take a break and keep himself fresh for the World Test Championship. Come back again for the last few matches, but right now take a breather himself. He is looking slightly preoccupied, maybe he is thinking about the WTC. I think he needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said on Star Sports. Also read: IPL 2023: Defending champions GT thrash Rohit Sharma's MI by 55 runs, take second spot in points table It is highly unlikely that Rohit will take a break with MI currently languishing at the seventh spot in the points table. He might sit out for a few games if Mumbai confirms a slot in the last four. Or, if they fall flat in the upcoming games and are totally out of the playoffs race, then Rohit might be benched to keep himself fit for the WTC finale. On Tuesday (April 25), the BCCI announced a 15-member squad for India's WTC summit clash versus Australia. INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

IPL 2023: Rohit should take a break, come back fresh for WTC final vs Australia, suggests Gavaskar

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the World Test Championship Final to be played against Australia in England from June 7, 2023.

BCCI has named six batsmen in the squad apart from a wicketkeeper. In the bowling department, the board has gone with three spinners and five fast bowlers. Rohit Sharma has been named captain while no vice-captain has been designated for the squad.

Rohit Sharma, apart from leading the side, is expected to open the batting along side Shubman Gill with Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli slotted next. KS Bharat has been designated the wicketkeeper in squad. Assuming that three fast bowlers and two spinners will be in the playing XI, the last batsman slot is open to be grabbed by Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-virat-kohli-fined-24-lakhs-other-rcb-players-fined-6-lakhs-for-slow-over-rate-vs-rr-585868">Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR</a>

Among the three spinners named in the squad, Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to get a nod ahead of Axar Patel. In the fast bowling department, Sahrdul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat have been able to secure a place.

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🚨 NEWS 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final announced. 
 
Details 🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC23</a> <a href="https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU">https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIcH530rOL">pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL</a>
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The most surprising name in the entire squad is of Ajinkya Rahane. The former India Test vice-captain was not the part of India's last Test series against Australia. He, however, has turned heads with his performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

Rahane plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has hit two fifties in five matches he has played so far. The batsman has hit 204 runs in the season at a strike rate of 199.04 and an average of 52.25

India's squad for WTC Final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the World Test Championship Final to be played against Australia in England from June 7, 2023.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the World Test Championship Final to be played against Australia in England from June 7, 2023. BCCI has named six batsmen in the squad apart from a wicketkeeper. In the bowling department, the board has gone with three spinners and five fast bowlers. Rohit Sharma has been named captain while no vice-captain has been designated for the squad. Rohit Sharma, apart from leading the side, is expected to open the batting along side Shubman Gill with Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli slotted next. KS Bharat has been designated the wicketkeeper in squad. Assuming that three fast bowlers and two spinners will be in the playing XI, the last batsman slot is open to be grabbed by Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul. Also Read: Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR Among the three spinners named in the squad, Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to get a nod ahead of Axar Patel. In the fast bowling department, Sahrdul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat have been able to secure a place. 🚨 NEWS 🚨#TeamIndia squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final announced. Details 🔽 #WTC23 https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL — BCCI (@BCCI) April 25, 2023 × The most surprising name in the entire squad is of Ajinkya Rahane. The former India Test vice-captain was not the part of India's last Test series against Australia. He, however, has turned heads with his performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Rahane plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has hit two fifties in five matches he has played so far. The batsman has hit 204 runs in the season at a strike rate of 199.04 and an average of 52.25 India's squad for WTC Final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WTC Final, 2023: BCCI announces squad, Ajinkya Rahane makes a comeback

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia, which will be held next month at The Oval, London. In the 15-member squad, Ajinkya Rahane made a comeback into the national side on the back of a decent run in the Ranji Trophy 2022/23 edition and his recent success in the ongoing IPL 2023 edition for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Rahane's comeback was mainly possible after Shreyas Iyer got injured, due to his persistent back issues, and Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will bank on him in the English conditions given his overall experience. Many former cricketers and experts have shared their take on Rahane's return. MSK Prasad, former Indian chief selector, also joined the bandwagon and gave a thumbs up to the former Indian Test vice-captain's return.&nbsp;

Speaking to IndiaToday, Prasad said, "It’s a fair team, it’s the right call. Ajinkya&nbsp;with so much of uncertainty in the middle-order, I think they (selectors) were absolutely right. I am very, very happy for him. He has always been a wonderful performer for India in the away series. And I think he fits the bill perfectly. Full credit to the selectors for bringing him back."

<iframe aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="2" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" role="region" scrolling="no" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>"Basically, his attitude is like a monk's. He is never disturbed when he is not selected. He is not over-excited when he is selected. He is that kind of a guy. His mood doesn't swing up and down, just like that. He is a very mature person. Unfortunately, because of a dip in his form, he had to sit out," he added.

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Details 🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC23</a> <a href="https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU">https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIcH530rOL">pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL</a>
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Rahane was part of India's playing XI when they faced eventual winners New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final, at Southampton, in 2021. He returned with scores of 49 and 15 and will hope to contribute with a big knock this time around and lead India to a memorable win.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unseen-ms-dhoni-loses-cool-screams-and-gives-death-stare-to-his-csk-teammate-watch-586028">IPL 2023: UNSEEN! MS Dhoni loses cool, screams and gives DEATH STARE to his CSK teammate - Watch</a>

INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia, which will be held next month at The Oval, London.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia, which will be held next month at The Oval, London. In the 15-member squad, Ajinkya Rahane made a comeback into the national side on the back of a decent run in the Ranji Trophy 2022/23 edition and his recent success in the ongoing IPL 2023 edition for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Rahane's comeback was mainly possible after Shreyas Iyer got injured, due to his persistent back issues, and Rohit Sharma & Co. will bank on him in the English conditions given his overall experience. Many former cricketers and experts have shared their take on Rahane's return. MSK Prasad, former Indian chief selector, also joined the bandwagon and gave a thumbs up to the former Indian Test vice-captain's return. Speaking to IndiaToday, Prasad said, "It’s a fair team, it’s the right call. Ajinkya with so much of uncertainty in the middle-order, I think they (selectors) were absolutely right. I am very, very happy for him. He has always been a wonderful performer for India in the away series. And I think he fits the bill perfectly. Full credit to the selectors for bringing him back." "Basically, his attitude is like a monk's. He is never disturbed when he is not selected. He is not over-excited when he is selected. He is that kind of a guy. His mood doesn't swing up and down, just like that. He is a very mature person. Unfortunately, because of a dip in his form, he had to sit out," he added. 🚨 NEWS 🚨#TeamIndia squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final announced. Details 🔽 #WTC23 https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL — BCCI (@BCCI) April 25, 2023 × Rahane was part of India's playing XI when they faced eventual winners New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final, at Southampton, in 2021. He returned with scores of 49 and 15 and will hope to contribute with a big knock this time around and lead India to a memorable win. Also Read: IPL 2023: UNSEEN! MS Dhoni loses cool, screams and gives DEATH STARE to his CSK teammate - Watch INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

Ajinkya Rahane has monk-like attitude, good call to pick him for WTC final: Former India chief selector

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28. Soon after the end of IPL 2023, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will reassemble and leave for the United Kingdom to lock horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the 2021-23 cycle.

After missing out on winning the inaugural WTC cycle, and losing to New Zealand in 2021, India will hope to make the most of this opportunity and&nbsp;end their 10-year-long ICC-title drought. While Indian players have been asked to manage their workload efficiently in IPL 2023, there have already been some injury concerns ahead of the WTC summit clash, on June 07 at The Oval, London. While Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have already been ruled out, Shreyas Iyer is also out of contention.

With Iyer's back injury resurfacing during India-Australia home Tests, he is out of IPL 2023 and will also miss the high-voltage WTC clash. Thus, India have some tough calls to&nbsp;smartly pack their middle order for the marquee clash, keeping the English conditions in mind.

Many experts have chipped in the idea of KL Rahul to open with Rohit as the duo was a successful pair during India's four Tests in England in the 2021 English summer. However, Rahul's low returns -- in Australia Tests and IPL 2023 so far -- aren't unknown. If&nbsp;the team management still persists&nbsp;with Rahul-Rohit as their openers, this could drop in-form batter Shubman Gill at No. 5 (an alien spot for him);&nbsp;filling in for Iyer. Nonetheless, Ajinkya Rahane's two good outings for his new franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing IPL season have led to many ardent Indian cricket fans and former cricketers suggesting his inclusion.

Rahane for WTC final?

It is to be noted that Rahane has made scores of 61 (27) and 31 (19), striking at over 200 (225.92) and 150 (163.15) respectively, so far in his two innings for CSK. While many can say that IPL isn't an ideal platform for any batter's&nbsp;return in Tests, that too after two-long years, Rahane has had a good domestic run as well.

Rahane scored 634 runs (with a best of 204)&nbsp;in seven matches, at an average of&nbsp;57.63, with a hundred and two fifties for Mumbai in the 2022/23 Ranji Trophy season. While he could have gone for a County stint (like Cheteshwar Pujara), rather than plying his trade in the IPL, a dearth of middle-order batters with Iyer and Pant's injury has brightened the chances for Rahane.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-it-comes-to-carrying-water-or-helping-out-someone-hes-such-a-team-man-ravi-shastri-hails-csk-batter-581710">'If it comes to carrying water or helping out someone, he's such a team man': Ravi Shastri hails CSK batter</a>

What are the numbers for Rahane?

Now, let's focus on Rahane's numbers in Tests, particularly in England. The right-hander has scored 4,931 Test runs in 82 Tests, with 12 hundreds and 25 half-centuries. In England, he has amassed 729 runs in 15 Tests, at a woeful average of 26.03, with a solitary hundred and five fifties. He has two memorable knocks in English conditions; 103 (Lord's Test, 2014) and 81 (Trent Bridge, 2018).

Meanwhile, Rahane has a total of 1,090 runs versus Australia at an average of 37.58 with two centuries and five half-centuries (only one at home). In addition, he has scored&nbsp;884 of those in Australia, which includes both his tons.

Above all, it is Rahane's experience that the Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team will bank up on if he earns a recall. A stage as big as a WTC final and an opposition as formidable as Pat Cummins-led Australia (against whom he scored his last ton -- a memorable 112)&nbsp;can perfectly motivate a senior pro like Rahane.

Given, Rahane has already tasted failure with the Virat Kohli-led Indian side in the inaugural WTC final, where he scored 49 and 15, the 34-year-old will be highly charged in possibly his last ICC final. In the twilight of his career, it goes without saying that the Mumbaikar will be desperate to make the most of any chance presented to him.

Fire to perform is still burning strong!

After his spirited 27-ball 61 in CSK debut, versus Mumbai Indians (MI), at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai,&nbsp;a determined Rahane subtly reminded the critics that it is still early to write him off. At the post-match presentation, he said, "I was just told to focus on my strengths and focus on preparation. I love playing at the Wankhede, I know the ground well. Have not played a Test here, yet." He even smiled when on-air commentators praised his usage of 'yet'.&nbsp;

Later, at the post-match presser, he stated, "Still, a long way to go [WTC final]. Today, I was not sure about my place in the eleven, (and) got to know just before the toss. For me, it is about playing one game at a time and staying in the moment. "Anything can happen. I will never give up. For me it is about playing with enjoyment and passion," Rahane added.

For now, Rahane needs to continue to tick the basics and add runs for CSK. If he continues in the same manner, the batting maestro -- and also a highly acclaimed slip fielder --&nbsp;might be in India's scheme of things&nbsp;to star in the playing XI for the WTC final. 
 
&nbsp;

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28. Soon after the end of IPL 2023, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will reassemble and leave for the United Kingdom to lock horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the 2021-23 cycle. After missing out on winning the inaugural WTC cycle, and losing to New Zealand in 2021, India will hope to make the most of this opportunity and end their 10-year-long ICC-title drought. While Indian players have been asked to manage their workload efficiently in IPL 2023, there have already been some injury concerns ahead of the WTC summit clash, on June 07 at The Oval, London. While Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have already been ruled out, Shreyas Iyer is also out of contention. With Iyer's back injury resurfacing during India-Australia home Tests, he is out of IPL 2023 and will also miss the high-voltage WTC clash. Thus, India have some tough calls to smartly pack their middle order for the marquee clash, keeping the English conditions in mind. Many experts have chipped in the idea of KL Rahul to open with Rohit as the duo was a successful pair during India's four Tests in England in the 2021 English summer. However, Rahul's low returns -- in Australia Tests and IPL 2023 so far -- aren't unknown. If the team management still persists with Rahul-Rohit as their openers, this could drop in-form batter Shubman Gill at No. 5 (an alien spot for him); filling in for Iyer. Nonetheless, Ajinkya Rahane's two good outings for his new franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing IPL season have led to many ardent Indian cricket fans and former cricketers suggesting his inclusion. Rahane for WTC final? It is to be noted that Rahane has made scores of 61 (27) and 31 (19), striking at over 200 (225.92) and 150 (163.15) respectively, so far in his two innings for CSK. While many can say that IPL isn't an ideal platform for any batter's return in Tests, that too after two-long years, Rahane has had a good domestic run as well. Rahane scored 634 runs (with a best of 204) in seven matches, at an average of 57.63, with a hundred and two fifties for Mumbai in the 2022/23 Ranji Trophy season. While he could have gone for a County stint (like Cheteshwar Pujara), rather than plying his trade in the IPL, a dearth of middle-order batters with Iyer and Pant's injury has brightened the chances for Rahane. Also Read: 'If it comes to carrying water or helping out someone, he's such a team man': Ravi Shastri hails CSK batter What are the numbers for Rahane? Now, let's focus on Rahane's numbers in Tests, particularly in England. The right-hander has scored 4,931 Test runs in 82 Tests, with 12 hundreds and 25 half-centuries. In England, he has amassed 729 runs in 15 Tests, at a woeful average of 26.03, with a solitary hundred and five fifties. He has two memorable knocks in English conditions; 103 (Lord's Test, 2014) and 81 (Trent Bridge, 2018). Meanwhile, Rahane has a total of 1,090 runs versus Australia at an average of 37.58 with two centuries and five half-centuries (only one at home). In addition, he has scored 884 of those in Australia, which includes both his tons. Above all, it is Rahane's experience that the Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team will bank up on if he earns a recall. A stage as big as a WTC final and an opposition as formidable as Pat Cummins-led Australia (against whom he scored his last ton -- a memorable 112) can perfectly motivate a senior pro like Rahane. Given, Rahane has already tasted failure with the Virat Kohli-led Indian side in the inaugural WTC final, where he scored 49 and 15, the 34-year-old will be highly charged in possibly his last ICC final. In the twilight of his career, it goes without saying that the Mumbaikar will be desperate to make the most of any chance presented to him. Fire to perform is still burning strong! After his spirited 27-ball 61 in CSK debut, versus Mumbai Indians (MI), at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, a determined Rahane subtly reminded the critics that it is still early to write him off. At the post-match presentation, he said, "I was just told to focus on my strengths and focus on preparation. I love playing at the Wankhede, I know the ground well. Have not played a Test here, yet." He even smiled when on-air commentators praised his usage of 'yet'. Later, at the post-match presser, he stated, "Still, a long way to go [WTC final]. Today, I was not sure about my place in the eleven, (and) got to know just before the toss. For me, it is about playing one game at a time and staying in the moment. "Anything can happen. I will never give up. For me it is about playing with enjoyment and passion," Rahane added. For now, Rahane needs to continue to tick the basics and add runs for CSK. If he continues in the same manner, the batting maestro -- and also a highly acclaimed slip fielder -- might be in India's scheme of things to star in the playing XI for the WTC final. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained: Why Team India may turn back to Ajinkya Rahane for WTC final

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Monday (March 27),&nbsp;modified&nbsp;its rating for the Indore Test pitch that was used for the India-Australia third and penultimate Test,&nbsp;at the Holkar Stadium early this month. The pitch initially received a poor rating after the match ended&nbsp;in 2 days and a session but the decision has now been reversed after the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) appeal.

Following match referee Chris Broad's&nbsp;stern assessment of the conditions, the Indore Test pitch was labelled 'poor'; emphasising that it did not provide enough balance between bat and ball. However, BCCI appealed against the decision and now the rating has been changed to 'below average'.&nbsp;

Talking about the Indore Test, India opted to bat first but only managed a below par 109 in their first essay with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann taking a five-fer. Australia also fell flat with the bat but managed 197; taking a vital 88-run lead. In reply, Indian batters struggled once again by being rattled for 163 with Nathan Lyon ending with 8 for 64 (11 wickets overall in the match) as Australia chased down a paltry 76-run target with nine wickets in hand in the opening session on Day 3.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-central-contracts-ravindra-jadeja-gets-a-promotion-kl-rahul-demoted-check-full-list-576101">BCCI central contracts: Ravindra Jadeja gets a PROMOTION, KL Rahul DEMOTED - Check full list</a>

Why did ICC reverse the decision?

The ICC said in a statement, "Pursuant to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, the rating of pitch used for the third Test of the ICC World Test Championship series between India and Australia at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore from 1-3 March has been changed from poor to below average."

"Having reviewed footage of the Test match, the ICC appeal panel, consisting of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, and Roger Harper, ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Member, were of the opinion that, while the guidelines had been followed by the Match Referee in accordance with Appendix A of the Pitch Monitoring Process, it was deemed that there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the “poor” rating. Instead, the appeal panel concluded that the pitch should be rated as below average,” the statement added.

It is to be noted that the ICC rates the pitches&nbsp; after each and every match in accordance with the Pitch Monitoring Process.&nbsp;The pitches in the entire 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy remained a topic of discussion, with the Nagpur and Delhi pitches being rated 'average' (venue for the first two Tests), but the Indore surface made maximum headlines.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Monday (March 27), modified its rating for the Indore Test pitch that was used for the India-Australia third and penultimate Test, at the Holkar Stadium early this month.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Monday (March 27), modified its rating for the Indore Test pitch that was used for the India-Australia third and penultimate Test, at the Holkar Stadium early this month. The pitch initially received a poor rating after the match ended in 2 days and a session but the decision has now been reversed after the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) appeal. Following match referee Chris Broad's stern assessment of the conditions, the Indore Test pitch was labelled 'poor'; emphasising that it did not provide enough balance between bat and ball. However, BCCI appealed against the decision and now the rating has been changed to 'below average'. Talking about the Indore Test, India opted to bat first but only managed a below par 109 in their first essay with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann taking a five-fer. Australia also fell flat with the bat but managed 197; taking a vital 88-run lead. In reply, Indian batters struggled once again by being rattled for 163 with Nathan Lyon ending with 8 for 64 (11 wickets overall in the match) as Australia chased down a paltry 76-run target with nine wickets in hand in the opening session on Day 3. Also Read: BCCI central contracts: Ravindra Jadeja gets a PROMOTION, KL Rahul DEMOTED - Check full list Why did ICC reverse the decision? The ICC said in a statement, "Pursuant to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, the rating of pitch used for the third Test of the ICC World Test Championship series between India and Australia at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore from 1-3 March has been changed from poor to below average." "Having reviewed footage of the Test match, the ICC appeal panel, consisting of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, and Roger Harper, ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Member, were of the opinion that, while the guidelines had been followed by the Match Referee in accordance with Appendix A of the Pitch Monitoring Process, it was deemed that there was not enough excessive variable bounce to warrant the “poor” rating. Instead, the appeal panel concluded that the pitch should be rated as below average,” the statement added. It is to be noted that the ICC rates the pitches after each and every match in accordance with the Pitch Monitoring Process. The pitches in the entire 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy remained a topic of discussion, with the Nagpur and Delhi pitches being rated 'average' (venue for the first two Tests), but the Indore surface made maximum headlines.

Decision reversed! ICC modifies India-Australia Indore pitch rating after BCCI's appeal

Star India batter Virat Kohli recently ended this Test century drought which had lasted more than three years. Kohli scored a hundred, his 28th in Tests, after 41 innings in the fourth Test of recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy which India won 2-1.

Kohli's lack of runs was talked about a lot and with the hundred&nbsp;he gave his critics a befitting reply. Talking to his RCB teammate and friend AB de Villiers, Kohli explained what that hundred meant to him.

“So, when I made the hundred and converted it into a big one, that gave me a sense of calmness, relaxation, and excitement again,” Kohli told ABD while speaking on the former South African’s YouTube channel.

“You kind of become comfortable with your game, and your thinking, and your heart is not rising before the next practice session. You eventually want to be in such a space. And that particular hundred gave me a grounded feeling back. Just from a cricketing perspective. In life, I was pretty happy and relaxed. But when playing also, you want to be in that space as much as possible,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-3rd-odi-steve-smith-shouldnt-lead-australia-shane-watson-highlights-pat-cummins-impact-574348">IND vs AUS 3rd ODI: 'Steve Smith shouldn't lead Australia' - Shane Watson highlights Pat Cummins' impact</a>

Kohli also touched upon how much importance he gives to Test cricket and how it requires patience to score runs even on batting-friendly pitches.

“I and AB have been in touch for a while and he knows how much I value Test cricket. Even though, I had performed in T20Is again and scored ODI centuries and all that stuff, I always felt that white-ball cricket, for me, was more of a thing where if you go in with the right frame of mind on a particular day or for a certain period of time, you can get past the hurdles.

“But even though we played the Test on a wicket that is not offering too much to the bowlers, you still have to bat for good 7-8 hours sometimes, because they (Australia) are that patient with their fields and they could go defensive. It was just testing me constantly. That is something that I have always cherished as a cricketer.

Kohli, despite not getting hundreds in Test cricket since his century against Bangladesh in November 2019, was hitting runs and getting decent scores to his name. The dashing batter, however, said that he wasn't completely satisfied with the outcomes.

“I was getting decent scores, but if you ask me if I was happy with what I was doing. I wasn’t. I pride myself in performing for the team to the best of my ability, I certainly wasn’t doing that enough. I wanted to score big runs, that’s something that always propelled me, whether it was at home or away. I was doing that to a certain extent. But I was not having the same kind of impact that I had before,” he added.

Notably, Virat is currently second on the list most international hundreds with 75 to his name, and trails only Sachin Tendulkar who has 100 international hundreds to his name.

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Star India batter Virat Kohli recently ended this Test century drought which had lasted more than three years. Kohli scored a hundred, his 28th in Tests, after 41 innings in the fourth Test of recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy which India won 2-1.

Star India batter Virat Kohli recently ended this Test century drought which had lasted more than three years. Kohli scored a hundred, his 28th in Tests, after 41 innings in the fourth Test of recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy which India won 2-1. Kohli's lack of runs was talked about a lot and with the hundred he gave his critics a befitting reply. Talking to his RCB teammate and friend AB de Villiers, Kohli explained what that hundred meant to him. “So, when I made the hundred and converted it into a big one, that gave me a sense of calmness, relaxation, and excitement again,” Kohli told ABD while speaking on the former South African’s YouTube channel. “You kind of become comfortable with your game, and your thinking, and your heart is not rising before the next practice session. You eventually want to be in such a space. And that particular hundred gave me a grounded feeling back. Just from a cricketing perspective. In life, I was pretty happy and relaxed. But when playing also, you want to be in that space as much as possible,” he added. Also Read: IND vs AUS 3rd ODI: 'Steve Smith shouldn't lead Australia' - Shane Watson highlights Pat Cummins' impact Kohli also touched upon how much importance he gives to Test cricket and how it requires patience to score runs even on batting-friendly pitches. “I and AB have been in touch for a while and he knows how much I value Test cricket. Even though, I had performed in T20Is again and scored ODI centuries and all that stuff, I always felt that white-ball cricket, for me, was more of a thing where if you go in with the right frame of mind on a particular day or for a certain period of time, you can get past the hurdles. “But even though we played the Test on a wicket that is not offering too much to the bowlers, you still have to bat for good 7-8 hours sometimes, because they (Australia) are that patient with their fields and they could go defensive. It was just testing me constantly. That is something that I have always cherished as a cricketer. Kohli, despite not getting hundreds in Test cricket since his century against Bangladesh in November 2019, was hitting runs and getting decent scores to his name. The dashing batter, however, said that he wasn't completely satisfied with the outcomes. “I was getting decent scores, but if you ask me if I was happy with what I was doing. I wasn’t. I pride myself in performing for the team to the best of my ability, I certainly wasn’t doing that enough. I wanted to score big runs, that’s something that always propelled me, whether it was at home or away. I was doing that to a certain extent. But I was not having the same kind of impact that I had before,” he added. Notably, Virat is currently second on the list most international hundreds with 75 to his name, and trails only Sachin Tendulkar who has 100 international hundreds to his name. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'I was not...': Virat Kohli opens up on Test century drought in chat with AB de Villiers

A lot has been said and written about KL Rahul of late. While he hasn't featured for India in the shortest format after the T20 World Cup and his form in red-ball format led to a huge war of words between Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra, the right-hander is on a roll as an ODI batter. In the ongoing India-Australia ODIs, the wicketkeeper-batter struck a magnificent 75 not out in the series opener, helping the Men in Blue win by five wickets.

Ever since Rahul has been given the task to bat at No. 5 in ODIs, the 30-year-old has come to his own. He has played&nbsp;18 innings at No. 5, slamming&nbsp;742 runs with one hundred and seven fifties at an average of 53.00. Thus, India's veteran off-spinner R Ashwin shunned Rahul's critics and lauded him for performing a tough role with ease. In addition, he compared him with MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, two of India's finest middle-order batters in white-ball formats.

'Yuvraj,&nbsp;Dhoni&nbsp;batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark. Rahul is doing a tough job with ease'

"Consider everyone who is currently batting at No.5 in ODI cricket. There isn't even one cricketer at the moment who bats at No 5 and has made a mark for himself. Because it is a very tough position to bat. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were the only two guys who batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark for themselves. Dhoni mostly batted at 6 though. For Australia, it was Michael Bevan. It is not at all easy to bat in that number in ODIs," said Ashwin on his Youtube channel.

The 36-year-old Test specialist further asserted, "If people we like do something good and get trending on Twitter then we will start worshipping and celebrating them like anything but if they are going through a bad patch, we will not celebrate their value or the magnitude of what they are doing. KL Rahul is doing a very difficult role with ease. He has been a proper box-office in ODIs. He has got phenomenal numbers batting at No.5. GO and search if you can find anyone even close to him in terms of numbers in ODIs."

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-have-narrowed-it-down-rahul-dravids-big-claim-on-indias-2023-world-cup-preparations-574584">'We have...': Rahul Dravid provides big update on India's 2023 World Cup preparations</a>

"Immediately after his knock (in Mumbai) people were like 'KL Rahul is back'. KL Rahul didn't go anywhere in ODI cricket to be back. He didn't do anything for us to put him down one day and celebrate him the other day. We shouldn't do that. We should know how to assess a player's performance. If we don't do that, we will back all the wrong and play all the wrong people," Ashwin concluded.

Rahul-starrer India is involved in the third and final ODI versus Australia, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22). The series is on the line, at 1-1, and Rahul will once again hope to perform with the bat and take Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. to a series triumph versus the No. 2 ranked Australian side. He will then lead the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2023.

A lot has been said and written about KL Rahul of late. While he hasn't featured for India in the shortest format after the T20 World Cup and his form in red-ball format led to a huge war of words between Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra, the right-hander is on a roll as an ODI batter.

A lot has been said and written about KL Rahul of late. While he hasn't featured for India in the shortest format after the T20 World Cup and his form in red-ball format led to a huge war of words between Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra, the right-hander is on a roll as an ODI batter. In the ongoing India-Australia ODIs, the wicketkeeper-batter struck a magnificent 75 not out in the series opener, helping the Men in Blue win by five wickets. Ever since Rahul has been given the task to bat at No. 5 in ODIs, the 30-year-old has come to his own. He has played 18 innings at No. 5, slamming 742 runs with one hundred and seven fifties at an average of 53.00. Thus, India's veteran off-spinner R Ashwin shunned Rahul's critics and lauded him for performing a tough role with ease. In addition, he compared him with MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, two of India's finest middle-order batters in white-ball formats. 'Yuvraj, Dhoni batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark. Rahul is doing a tough job with ease' "Consider everyone who is currently batting at No.5 in ODI cricket. There isn't even one cricketer at the moment who bats at No 5 and has made a mark for himself. Because it is a very tough position to bat. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were the only two guys who batted mostly at 5 in ODIs and made a mark for themselves. Dhoni mostly batted at 6 though. For Australia, it was Michael Bevan. It is not at all easy to bat in that number in ODIs," said Ashwin on his Youtube channel. The 36-year-old Test specialist further asserted, "If people we like do something good and get trending on Twitter then we will start worshipping and celebrating them like anything but if they are going through a bad patch, we will not celebrate their value or the magnitude of what they are doing. KL Rahul is doing a very difficult role with ease. He has been a proper box-office in ODIs. He has got phenomenal numbers batting at No.5. GO and search if you can find anyone even close to him in terms of numbers in ODIs." Also Read: 'We have...': Rahul Dravid provides big update on India's 2023 World Cup preparations "Immediately after his knock (in Mumbai) people were like 'KL Rahul is back'. KL Rahul didn't go anywhere in ODI cricket to be back. He didn't do anything for us to put him down one day and celebrate him the other day. We shouldn't do that. We should know how to assess a player's performance. If we don't do that, we will back all the wrong and play all the wrong people," Ashwin concluded. Rahul-starrer India is involved in the third and final ODI versus Australia, in Chennai, on Wednesday (March 22). The series is on the line, at 1-1, and Rahul will once again hope to perform with the bat and take Rohit Sharma & Co. to a series triumph versus the No. 2 ranked Australian side. He will then lead the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2023.

Ashwin lauds KL Rahul for 'doing very difficult role with ease', compares him with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh

Team India lost the second and penultimate ODI to Australia by ten wickets in the ongoing three-match series at home. Playing the penultimate game, on Sunday (March 18) in Visakhapatnam, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. were bundled out for a paltry 117, courtesy of Mitchell Starc's five-fer, and lost the contest by ten wickets with 234 balls to spare.

After the heavy defeat, India will aim for a quick turnaround and win the series decider at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday (March 22). Ahead of the series finale, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has called for Sanju Samson's inclusion in place of Suryakumar Yadav. It is to be noted that SKY has managed two golden ducks in the series and his place is under threat.

"We have to see if the management sticks with Suryakumar Yadav in the third ODI; otherwise, it’s not a bad option to give Sanju Samson a chance because he has played well when given the opportunity, and he is a good player," Jaffer told&nbsp;ESPNCricinfo.

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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wouldnt-have-applied-if-virat-kohli-had-not-approached-me-sehwag-recalls-being-offered-india-coach-job-574147">Wouldn’t have applied if Virat Kohli had not approached me: Sehwag recalls being offered India coach job</a>

Samson isn't part of India's ODI squad at present. He last played for the Men in Blue in early 2023 before an injury, during the home T20Is versus Sri Lanka, ruled him out of action. A fit-again Samson hasn't managed to comeback into the Indian squad since then as the team management preferred SKY after Shreyas Iyer, a regular at the No. 4 spot, recently got injured.

After Surya's twin failures in the Australia ODIs, captain Rohit backed him to come good. After the Vizag ODI, Hitman said, "Of course, he knows that he needs to do it while in a slightly longer format of the game as well. I think things are there in his mind as well. As I said, guys with potential will have enough run where you know they should not feel that ‘Okay, You know I wasn’t given enough chances in that particular slot'."

He added, "We don’t know about (Shreyas) Iyer’s return. At this time there is a spot available so we have to play him (Suryakumar). He has obviously shown a lot of potential with white ball and I have said it many times before (that) guys with potential will be given some run."
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Team India lost the second and penultimate ODI to Australia by ten wickets in the ongoing three-match series at home. Playing the penultimate game, on Sunday (March 18) in Visakhapatnam, Rohit Sharma & Co.

Team India lost the second and penultimate ODI to Australia by ten wickets in the ongoing three-match series at home. Playing the penultimate game, on Sunday (March 18) in Visakhapatnam, Rohit Sharma & Co. were bundled out for a paltry 117, courtesy of Mitchell Starc's five-fer, and lost the contest by ten wickets with 234 balls to spare. After the heavy defeat, India will aim for a quick turnaround and win the series decider at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday (March 22). Ahead of the series finale, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has called for Sanju Samson's inclusion in place of Suryakumar Yadav. It is to be noted that SKY has managed two golden ducks in the series and his place is under threat. "We have to see if the management sticks with Suryakumar Yadav in the third ODI; otherwise, it’s not a bad option to give Sanju Samson a chance because he has played well when given the opportunity, and he is a good player," Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo. Also read: Wouldn’t have applied if Virat Kohli had not approached me: Sehwag recalls being offered India coach job Samson isn't part of India's ODI squad at present. He last played for the Men in Blue in early 2023 before an injury, during the home T20Is versus Sri Lanka, ruled him out of action. A fit-again Samson hasn't managed to comeback into the Indian squad since then as the team management preferred SKY after Shreyas Iyer, a regular at the No. 4 spot, recently got injured. After Surya's twin failures in the Australia ODIs, captain Rohit backed him to come good. After the Vizag ODI, Hitman said, "Of course, he knows that he needs to do it while in a slightly longer format of the game as well. I think things are there in his mind as well. As I said, guys with potential will have enough run where you know they should not feel that ‘Okay, You know I wasn’t given enough chances in that particular slot'." He added, "We don’t know about (Shreyas) Iyer’s return. At this time there is a spot available so we have to play him (Suryakumar). He has obviously shown a lot of potential with white ball and I have said it many times before (that) guys with potential will be given some run."

Ind vs Aus, 3rd ODI: Wasim Jaffer calls for Sanju Samson's inclusion after Suryakumar Yadav's twin failures

KL Rahul scored a sublime 75 not out in India's first ODI win versus Australia at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on March 17 (Friday). After a forgettable run in the Border-Gavaskar Test series, Rahul's return to form led to a sigh of relief for his supporters. In the recent past, a lot has been said and written on Rahul's form.

The former Indian vice-captain Rahul has been a part of international cricket since late 2014 and despite his occasional brilliance, the right-hander has still not been able to remain as consistent as he would have liked. Thus, it has led to severe criticism with former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad being quite vocal about Rahul's inconsistency. During the India-Australia Tests, Prasad's rant on Rahul went viral on Twitter and he also got engaged in a verbal spat with former Indian opener Aakash Chopra.

Recently, Prasad opened up on his criticism&nbsp;and said that 'it is&nbsp;not that I've only spoken about&nbsp;Rahul'.

'Few people have taken it very seriously and few have criticised'

"I've got nothing against anybody but it's just that whatever I feel I say it. Few people take it; few don't. It's up to them. It's not that I've only spoken about KL Rahul. I even expressed my opinion over Sarfaraz Ahmed as well who has been performing brilliantly. I have made sure that I didn't cross the line, as simple as that. Few people have taken it very seriously and few have criticised," Prasad told CNN News 18.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-have-a-point-to-prove-md-hafeez-on-rohit-sharma-cos-chances-at-odi-wc-573906">'India have a point to prove': Md Hafeez on Rohit Sharma &amp; Co.'s chances at 2023 ODI World Cup</a>

He further stated, "Look I've got great respect and regard to KL Rahul. I've seen him since his Under-16 days - almost for 15 years. Having followed and worked with him at different stages be in Karnataka, at NCA or with the Indian team. He was given a long rope and that's fair enough for the kind of potential that he has. But he has not lived up to the talent that he is there. I am sure it will get better in the next few months but having said that, I have not been harsh; I had to say what I felt."

Rahul-starrer India is gearing up for the third and final ODI versus Australia before the action shifts to the IPL 2023 edition.

KL Rahul scored a sublime 75 not out in India's first ODI win versus Australia at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on March 17 (Friday). After a forgettable run in the Border-Gavaskar Test series, Rahul's return to form led to a sigh of relief for his supporters.

KL Rahul scored a sublime 75 not out in India's first ODI win versus Australia at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on March 17 (Friday). After a forgettable run in the Border-Gavaskar Test series, Rahul's return to form led to a sigh of relief for his supporters. In the recent past, a lot has been said and written on Rahul's form. The former Indian vice-captain Rahul has been a part of international cricket since late 2014 and despite his occasional brilliance, the right-hander has still not been able to remain as consistent as he would have liked. Thus, it has led to severe criticism with former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad being quite vocal about Rahul's inconsistency. During the India-Australia Tests, Prasad's rant on Rahul went viral on Twitter and he also got engaged in a verbal spat with former Indian opener Aakash Chopra. Recently, Prasad opened up on his criticism and said that 'it is not that I've only spoken about Rahul'. 'Few people have taken it very seriously and few have criticised' "I've got nothing against anybody but it's just that whatever I feel I say it. Few people take it; few don't. It's up to them. It's not that I've only spoken about KL Rahul. I even expressed my opinion over Sarfaraz Ahmed as well who has been performing brilliantly. I have made sure that I didn't cross the line, as simple as that. Few people have taken it very seriously and few have criticised," Prasad told CNN News 18. Also Read: 'India have a point to prove': Md Hafeez on Rohit Sharma & Co.'s chances at 2023 ODI World Cup He further stated, "Look I've got great respect and regard to KL Rahul. I've seen him since his Under-16 days - almost for 15 years. Having followed and worked with him at different stages be in Karnataka, at NCA or with the Indian team. He was given a long rope and that's fair enough for the kind of potential that he has. But he has not lived up to the talent that he is there. I am sure it will get better in the next few months but having said that, I have not been harsh; I had to say what I felt." Rahul-starrer India is gearing up for the third and final ODI versus Australia before the action shifts to the IPL 2023 edition.

'Not that I've only....': Venkatesh Prasad opens up on his criticism of KL Rahul on Twitter

KL Rahul's place in the Indian team has become a big talking point. While Rohit Sharma-led India are on a roll versus Australia and gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy following the Delhi Test, Rahul finds himself in a spot of bother owing to his poor run of form in whites. In the last 12 innings,&nbsp;he has only managed 198 runs. In addition, he&nbsp;has a total of 38 runs in the three outings in the ongoing series.

Although captain Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid continue to support Rahul, many have raised concerns over his poor form and called for his ouster. Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad has been quite vocal on his views on Rahul and&nbsp;called for his omission at the earliest. He shared a series of tweets during the recently-concluded second Test, in the national capital, criticising Rahul and was advised by ex-opener Aakash Chopra to not slam the right-hander further amid the proceedings. Later, he shared Rahul's away numbers to break the "he has great overseas Test record" notion,&nbsp;praised the likes of discarded openers Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal and youngster Shubman Gill.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/venkatesh-prasad-once-again-slams-kl-rahul-hits-back-at-he-has-great-overseas-test-record-claims-563881">Venkatesh Prasad once again slams KL Rahul, hits back at 'he has great overseas Test record' claims</a>

After all this, Chopra recently posted a video on his Youtube channel where he urged Prasad&nbsp;to stay calm and not peddle 'agendas' if&nbsp;any or point out Rahul's stats as per&nbsp;his thoughts. However, things have gone out of hand with the former speedster slamming Chopra for his choice of words.

Here's what Chopra said:

"I am not saying KL Rahul will become like Rohit Sharma but I humbly request you to stay calm. If there are any agendas, let's not peddle them. Let's talk about the numbers that are actually there and not those that suit your thoughts," Chopra stressed on his official Youtube channel.&nbsp;&nbsp;

'It was disappointing to see Aakash calling it personal agenda'

Prasad has now responded to Chopra's words and slammed him. He tweeted saying,&nbsp;"So my friend Aakash Chopra after making a vile video on YouTube this morning where he calls me an agenda peddle, &nbsp;conveniently and cleverly misquotes me, removes Mayank's average of 70 at home, wants to gag views which are not in line with what he believes but wanted Rohit out."

Further, he stated, "I have no agenda against any player, maybe there are others who have. Difference of opinion is fine but calling contrary views as apna personal agenda and Twitter par mat laayein is funny for&nbsp; 
@cricketaakash, considering he has made a great career by airing his views. I have nothing against KL or any other player, my voice has been against unfair selection and different yardsticks for performers. Be it Sarfaraz or Kuldeep, have voiced based on merit. But it was disappointing to see Aakash calling it personal agenda."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
So my friend Aakash Chopra after making a vile video on YouTube this morning where he calls me an agenda peddle, conveniently and cleverly misquotes me, removes Mayank’s average of 70 at home, wants to gag views which are not in line with what he believes but wanted Rohit out <a href="https://t.co/2HwFLMgvmd">pic.twitter.com/2HwFLMgvmd</a>
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/venkateshprasad/status/1628012386140688384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Prasad shared an old tweet of Chopra, in 2012, where he had called for current skipper Rohit's ouster from the team. "This is what Aakash had aired when Rohit was 24 with 4 yrs in international cross. He can use sarcasm for Rohit at 24, and I cannot point out underperforming Rahul at 31 with 8 years in International cricket.&nbsp;Yeh bhi sahi hai (This is also right)," Prasad&nbsp;pointed out."

Prasad concluded by saying, "And the argument that we should not criticise a player in an ongoing match personally doesn't make sense to me. That doesn't affect the players performance. &nbsp;Most players don't read views even after the match and no player can read in between match as phones are deposited." He added, "I admire Aakash for the hardwork he puts on his YouTube channel but calling a different view point as agenda because it doesn't suit his narrative is poor. There is no bitterness between us and since his video was in public domain wanted to put my point out here. Best wishes."

While the Chopra vs Prasad spat is unlikely to end soon, all eyes are on Rahul before India's third Test versus Australia at the Holkar Stadium, Indore on March 01. After being sacked as the Test vice-captain, he will be desperate to prove a point and silence his critics with a daddy hundred.

KL Rahul's place in the Indian team has become a big talking point. While Rohit Sharma-led India are on a roll versus Australia and gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy following the Delhi Test, Rahul finds himself in a spot of bother owing to his poor run of form in whites.

KL Rahul's place in the Indian team has become a big talking point. While Rohit Sharma-led India are on a roll versus Australia and gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy following the Delhi Test, Rahul finds himself in a spot of bother owing to his poor run of form in whites. In the last 12 innings, he has only managed 198 runs. In addition, he has a total of 38 runs in the three outings in the ongoing series. Although captain Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid continue to support Rahul, many have raised concerns over his poor form and called for his ouster. Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad has been quite vocal on his views on Rahul and called for his omission at the earliest. He shared a series of tweets during the recently-concluded second Test, in the national capital, criticising Rahul and was advised by ex-opener Aakash Chopra to not slam the right-hander further amid the proceedings. Later, he shared Rahul's away numbers to break the "he has great overseas Test record" notion, praised the likes of discarded openers Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal and youngster Shubman Gill. Also Read: Venkatesh Prasad once again slams KL Rahul, hits back at 'he has great overseas Test record' claims After all this, Chopra recently posted a video on his Youtube channel where he urged Prasad to stay calm and not peddle 'agendas' if any or point out Rahul's stats as per his thoughts. However, things have gone out of hand with the former speedster slamming Chopra for his choice of words. Here's what Chopra said: "I am not saying KL Rahul will become like Rohit Sharma but I humbly request you to stay calm. If there are any agendas, let's not peddle them. Let's talk about the numbers that are actually there and not those that suit your thoughts," Chopra stressed on his official Youtube channel. 'It was disappointing to see Aakash calling it personal agenda' Prasad has now responded to Chopra's words and slammed him. He tweeted saying, "So my friend Aakash Chopra after making a vile video on YouTube this morning where he calls me an agenda peddle, conveniently and cleverly misquotes me, removes Mayank's average of 70 at home, wants to gag views which are not in line with what he believes but wanted Rohit out." Further, he stated, "I have no agenda against any player, maybe there are others who have. Difference of opinion is fine but calling contrary views as apna personal agenda and Twitter par mat laayein is funny for @cricketaakash, considering he has made a great career by airing his views. I have nothing against KL or any other player, my voice has been against unfair selection and different yardsticks for performers. Be it Sarfaraz or Kuldeep, have voiced based on merit. But it was disappointing to see Aakash calling it personal agenda." So my friend Aakash Chopra after making a vile video on YouTube this morning where he calls me an agenda peddle, conveniently and cleverly misquotes me, removes Mayank’s average of 70 at home, wants to gag views which are not in line with what he believes but wanted Rohit out pic.twitter.com/2HwFLMgvmd — Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 21, 2023 × Prasad shared an old tweet of Chopra, in 2012, where he had called for current skipper Rohit's ouster from the team. "This is what Aakash had aired when Rohit was 24 with 4 yrs in international cross. He can use sarcasm for Rohit at 24, and I cannot point out underperforming Rahul at 31 with 8 years in International cricket. Yeh bhi sahi hai (This is also right)," Prasad pointed out." Prasad concluded by saying, "And the argument that we should not criticise a player in an ongoing match personally doesn't make sense to me. That doesn't affect the players performance. Most players don't read views even after the match and no player can read in between match as phones are deposited." He added, "I admire Aakash for the hardwork he puts on his YouTube channel but calling a different view point as agenda because it doesn't suit his narrative is poor. There is no bitterness between us and since his video was in public domain wanted to put my point out here. Best wishes." While the Chopra vs Prasad spat is unlikely to end soon, all eyes are on Rahul before India's third Test versus Australia at the Holkar Stadium, Indore on March 01. After being sacked as the Test vice-captain, he will be desperate to prove a point and silence his critics with a daddy hundred.

'Disappointing...': Venkatesh Prasad blasts Aakash Chopra for calling him 'agenda peddler' vs KL Rahul

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