<p>India’s chances to qualify for the final of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) took heavy dents after they lost to New Zealand on Day 3 of the Pune Test on Saturday (Oct 26). The 113-run defeat has taken its toll on the Indian team’s chances of qualifying for the WTC final. They now face the prospect of winning four Test matches on Australian soil in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The win for New Zealand has also brought them back in the frame for the race to the final.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Successive Test five-wicket bags for Mitchell Santner (5-72) and his maiden first-class 10-wicket match haul (12-125). Three wickets to win after Tea! India need 181 runs.<br />
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Follow play LIVE in NZ on <a href="https://twitter.com/skysportnz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skysportnz</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/SENZ_Radio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SENZ_Radio</a> LIVE scoring <a href="https://t.co/6VR0Jde2yJ">https://t.co/6VR0Jde2yJ</a> 📲 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/ayoWUIPovb">pic.twitter.com/ayoWUIPovb</a></p>
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<h2><strong>India’s chances dented</strong></h2>

<p>The latest defeat in Pune for Rohit Sharma’s men means they narrowly sit at the top of the standings with a win percentage points (PCT) of 62.82 in 13 matches. Australia in second place are second with 62.50 PCT, meaning they could dethrone India at the top in case New Zealand get at least a draw in the Mumbai Test.</p>
<img alt="WTC Standings" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f929a0f6-f2c6-4a82-9184-3aa2efc70539" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-10-26%20164400.png" />
<h2><strong>Can India qualify for the WTC final?</strong></h2>

<p>The result in Pune will heavily affect the Indian team’s chances of making it to the final. Six wins in six matches could see Rohit’s side reach a maximum of 74 PCT; however, this is an unlikely prospect considering it is an away series. Practically, India now need to win at least four matches in their remaining six WTC contests, with five of those matches taking place in Australia.</p>

<p>The equation will be greatly influenced by the performances of other teams in running for the final as they will pick and drop points.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-2nd-test-mitchell-santner-spins-kiwis-to-maiden-test-series-victory-in-india-770920">IND vs NZ, 2nd Test: Mitchell Santner spins Kiwis to maiden Test series victory in India</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>New Zealand back in race for WTC final</strong></h2>

<p>While India’s chances were heavily dented, New Zealand have rejuvenated their hopes of a second WTC final after 2021. The Kiwis now have a PCT of 50 from 10 matches where they have won five and lost five. They still have four matches to play in the WTC cycle with them standing an opportunity to whitewash India on their home turf.</p>

<p>In case the Kiwis win their four matches they will attain a PCT of 64.28, giving them a good chance of qualifying to the final.</p>


India’s chances to qualify for the final of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) took heavy dents after they lost to New Zealand on Day 3 of the Pune Test on Saturday (Oct 26).

India’s chances to qualify for the final of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) took heavy dents after they lost to New Zealand on Day 3 of the Pune Test on Saturday (Oct 26). The 113-run defeat has taken its toll on the Indian team’s chances of qualifying for the WTC final. They now face the prospect of winning four Test matches on Australian soil in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The win for New Zealand has also brought them back in the frame for the race to the final. Successive Test five-wicket bags for Mitchell Santner (5-72) and his maiden first-class 10-wicket match haul (12-125). Three wickets to win after Tea! India need 181 runs. Follow play LIVE in NZ on @skysportnz or @SENZ_Radio LIVE scoring https://t.co/6VR0Jde2yJ 📲 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/ayoWUIPovb — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 26, 2024 × India’s chances dented The latest defeat in Pune for Rohit Sharma’s men means they narrowly sit at the top of the standings with a win percentage points (PCT) of 62.82 in 13 matches. Australia in second place are second with 62.50 PCT, meaning they could dethrone India at the top in case New Zealand get at least a draw in the Mumbai Test. Can India qualify for the WTC final? The result in Pune will heavily affect the Indian team’s chances of making it to the final. Six wins in six matches could see Rohit’s side reach a maximum of 74 PCT; however, this is an unlikely prospect considering it is an away series. Practically, India now need to win at least four matches in their remaining six WTC contests, with five of those matches taking place in Australia. The equation will be greatly influenced by the performances of other teams in running for the final as they will pick and drop points. ALSO READ | IND vs NZ, 2nd Test: Mitchell Santner spins Kiwis to maiden Test series victory in India New Zealand back in race for WTC final While India’s chances were heavily dented, New Zealand have rejuvenated their hopes of a second WTC final after 2021. The Kiwis now have a PCT of 50 from 10 matches where they have won five and lost five. They still have four matches to play in the WTC cycle with them standing an opportunity to whitewash India on their home turf. In case the Kiwis win their four matches they will attain a PCT of 64.28, giving them a good chance of qualifying to the final.

WTC: New Zealand dent India's chances of qualification to final with 113-run win in Pune

<p>BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has promised a good '15-day gap' between IPL and World Test Championship&nbsp;(WTC) finals going ahead. The last two WTC finals -- since the championship came into the scene in late 2019 -- were held soon after IPL. Many criticised the narrow gap as India lost the two WTC finals with ease. Virat Kohli-led India lost the WTC 2021 final to New Zealand, by eigth&nbsp;wickets in Southampton, whereas Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. lost the 2023&nbsp;final to&nbsp;Australia by 209 runs at The Oval, London. The last WTC final kicked off on June 7, with the IPL 2023 finale&nbsp;ending&nbsp;in the wee hours of May 30.</p>

<p>Shah stated that Team India&nbsp;have&nbsp;always reached for the final on time irrespective of the IPL schedule and lauded them&nbsp;for making it to&nbsp;the finals on both occasions so far. He told TOI, "The team didn't reach late for previous WTC finals. We had no choice. From now on, we will be having a 15-day gap between the end of IPL and the WTC final. But we should also appreciate the fact that we have qualified for the final twice."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-202425-shastri-responds-to-pontings-australia-will-win-3-1-remark-backs-india-to-complete-hat-trick-750133">BGT 2024/25: Shastri responds to Ponting's 'Australia will win 3-1' remark, backs India to complete hat-trick</a></strong></p>

<p>Ahead of the inaugural WTC final, held in 2021, that year's IPL came to a sudden halt due to the second wave of Covid-19 in India. Back then, the IPL was called off midway in early May and, hence, the&nbsp;national side got enough time to reach the United Kingdom, on June 3, and prepare&nbsp;post fulfilling the quarantine rules. They even played an intra-squad match. However, Kohli &amp; Co.&nbsp;lost to the Kiwis by eight wickets in Southampton.</p>

<p>Last year, the narrow gap between IPL and WTC final came to the forefront. The Indian players left in batches due to IPL 2023 and, thus, got&nbsp;lesser time to prepare and&nbsp;lost to Australia without much fight.</p>

<p>Questions have also been raised as to why the two WTC finals have been&nbsp;held in England and Wales only. The 2025 WTC final&nbsp;is also likely to be held in English conditions,&nbsp;although no venue has been confirmed as of now.</p>

<p>Looking at the WTC points table&nbsp;currently, India (win percentage of 68.52) and Australia (win percentage of 62.5) are favourites to meet once again in next year's finale.</p>


BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has promised a good '15-day gap' between IPL and World Test Championship (WTC) finals going ahead. The last two WTC finals -- since the championship came into the scene in late 2019 -- were held soon after IPL.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has promised a good '15-day gap' between IPL and World Test Championship (WTC) finals going ahead. The last two WTC finals -- since the championship came into the scene in late 2019 -- were held soon after IPL. Many criticised the narrow gap as India lost the two WTC finals with ease. Virat Kohli-led India lost the WTC 2021 final to New Zealand, by eigth wickets in Southampton, whereas Rohit Sharma & Co. lost the 2023 final to Australia by 209 runs at The Oval, London. The last WTC final kicked off on June 7, with the IPL 2023 finale ending in the wee hours of May 30. Shah stated that Team India have always reached for the final on time irrespective of the IPL schedule and lauded them for making it to the finals on both occasions so far. He told TOI, "The team didn't reach late for previous WTC finals. We had no choice. From now on, we will be having a 15-day gap between the end of IPL and the WTC final. But we should also appreciate the fact that we have qualified for the final twice." Also read: BGT 2024/25: Shastri responds to Ponting's 'Australia will win 3-1' remark, backs India to complete hat-trick Ahead of the inaugural WTC final, held in 2021, that year's IPL came to a sudden halt due to the second wave of Covid-19 in India. Back then, the IPL was called off midway in early May and, hence, the national side got enough time to reach the United Kingdom, on June 3, and prepare post fulfilling the quarantine rules. They even played an intra-squad match. However, Kohli & Co. lost to the Kiwis by eight wickets in Southampton. Last year, the narrow gap between IPL and WTC final came to the forefront. The Indian players left in batches due to IPL 2023 and, thus, got lesser time to prepare and lost to Australia without much fight. Questions have also been raised as to why the two WTC finals have been held in England and Wales only. The 2025 WTC final is also likely to be held in English conditions, although no venue has been confirmed as of now. Looking at the WTC points table currently, India (win percentage of 68.52) and Australia (win percentage of 62.5) are favourites to meet once again in next year's finale.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah promises '15-day gap' between IPL and WTC finals

Jasprit Bumrah returns: Major competitions missed by India pacer since mid-2022

From colossal failure in SA to WI T20I series loss: Team India's shocking LOWS in Rahul Dravid's tenure

<p>Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels India's biggest regret will be not playing R Ashwin in the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. Karthik made the big claim while reflecting on Pat Cummins-led Australia's playing XI in the fifth and final Ashes Test, which got underway on Thursday (July 27) at The Oval, London. India faced Australia in the second WTC final, which was also held at the same ground in&nbsp;London, and lost the match by 209 runs to lose the coveted Test mace.</p>

<p>Karthik opined on Australia's XI, who included Todd Murphy after dropping him for the fourth Test. Backing the decision, he told Sky Sports, "Todd Murphy is coming in. We know the pitch is dry.&nbsp;Nathan&nbsp;Lyon has done well at the Oval over a period of time. So the obvious change."</p>

<h2><strong>'You are unearthing a cab wound'</strong></h2>

<p>The 38-year-old then recalled India's decision to drop ace spinner Ashwin, who is also the No. 1 ranked Test bowler, during the WTC final in early June. "But India left R Ashwin as well, didn't they? In the World Test championship final. And that possibly cost them because this pitch is dry. You are unearthing a cab wound there. I think we should let that go. But yes, I think they do when they look back at it. That is one of the biggest regrets they could have," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wi-vs-ind-ive-answered-this-a-lot-of-times-rohit-to-reporter-when-asked-about-kohlis-lack-of-big-knocks-619936">WI vs IND: 'I've answered this a lot of times' - Rohit to reporter when asked about Kohli's lack of big knocks</a></strong></p>

<p>Talking about the WTC finale, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. won the toss and opted to bowl first. At 76 for 3, Australia were on the back foot before Travis Head's 163 and Steve Smith's 121 propelled them to a daunting 469. In reply, India only managed 296 and gave a healthy 173-run lead before Pat Cummins &amp; Co. set up a challenging 444-run target for the Asian giants.</p>

<p>In their run-chase, India fell for a modest 234 on the final day to lose by a big margin. This became India's second straight defeat in the WTC final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Australia are now focused on winning their first Ashes series in England since 2001 in the ongoing edition having entered the final Test with an unassailable 2-1 lead. They will look to replicate their performance from the WTC final to register another historic win at The Oval and end their tour of the United Kingdom on a high.&nbsp;</p>

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Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels India's biggest regret will be not playing R Ashwin in the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels India's biggest regret will be not playing R Ashwin in the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. Karthik made the big claim while reflecting on Pat Cummins-led Australia's playing XI in the fifth and final Ashes Test, which got underway on Thursday (July 27) at The Oval, London. India faced Australia in the second WTC final, which was also held at the same ground in London, and lost the match by 209 runs to lose the coveted Test mace. Karthik opined on Australia's XI, who included Todd Murphy after dropping him for the fourth Test. Backing the decision, he told Sky Sports, "Todd Murphy is coming in. We know the pitch is dry. Nathan Lyon has done well at the Oval over a period of time. So the obvious change." 'You are unearthing a cab wound' The 38-year-old then recalled India's decision to drop ace spinner Ashwin, who is also the No. 1 ranked Test bowler, during the WTC final in early June. "But India left R Ashwin as well, didn't they? In the World Test championship final. And that possibly cost them because this pitch is dry. You are unearthing a cab wound there. I think we should let that go. But yes, I think they do when they look back at it. That is one of the biggest regrets they could have," he added. Also read: WI vs IND: 'I've answered this a lot of times' - Rohit to reporter when asked about Kohli's lack of big knocks Talking about the WTC finale, Rohit Sharma & Co. won the toss and opted to bowl first. At 76 for 3, Australia were on the back foot before Travis Head's 163 and Steve Smith's 121 propelled them to a daunting 469. In reply, India only managed 296 and gave a healthy 173-run lead before Pat Cummins & Co. set up a challenging 444-run target for the Asian giants. In their run-chase, India fell for a modest 234 on the final day to lose by a big margin. This became India's second straight defeat in the WTC final. Meanwhile, Australia are now focused on winning their first Ashes series in England since 2001 in the ongoing edition having entered the final Test with an unassailable 2-1 lead. They will look to replicate their performance from the WTC final to register another historic win at The Oval and end their tour of the United Kingdom on a high. 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.

Leaving R Ashwin out of WTC Final will remain India's biggest regret, says veteran keeper Dinesh Karthik

<p>India are set to kick off their campaign in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle with the two-match Test series versus West Indies. The home side will host Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. in the first Test, at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica, on July 12 as India look set to start a new era in red-ball format with the additions of many youngsters in the line-up. When the Test squad for the WI series was announced, Cheteshwar Pujara's name was missing as many believe he has been made the scapegoat for India's WTC final loss versus Australia, at The Oval, London, last month.</p>

<p>Pujara averaged 32 in the 2021-23 WTC cycle and has only scored one ton since early 2019. The right-hander's numbers have been dismal, to say the least, but the likes of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have also not performed as per expectations for quite some time. Thus, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh opined on Pujara's omission and feels he has been India's 'unsung hero' for a long time and deserves more respect.</p>

<h2><strong>Pujara has been doing the dirty work of hanging in there'</strong></h2>

<p>"I have a lot of respect for Chesteshwar Pujara for what he has achieved. He has been an unsung hero of the Indian team for many years now. He has been one of those pillars of strength for India, doing the dirty work of hanging in there, making sure other batters got their comfort," Harbhajan told news agency&nbsp;<i>PTI.</i></p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-can-be-an-option-for-test-captaincy-if-india-look-beyond-rohit-sharma-former-chief-selector-613947">Virat Kohli can be an option for Test captaincy if India look beyond Rohit Sharma: Former chief selector</a></strong></p>

<p>Bhajji asserted, "I believe he needs to be given a bit more respect than what he has been given and the way he was chucked out of the team was a surprise for me. Because he isn't the only one not scoring runs. There are others as well who play in that same team who are scoring runs at same average."</p>

<p>Harbhajan also pointed out that a lot of talk has been around Pujara's strike-rate in Tests, but he feels he has also held up one end firmly with his defensive approach. "In case of Pujara, we keep hearing about his strike-rate of scoring runs in Tests but because of that strike-rate, the wickets remain intact and that's a huge contribution. So you have to see which guy is contributing what. You need to see how much the team needs him. In my opinion, the team still needs him. When you go abroad (SENA countries), you need one such batter as you can't have everyone playing strokes all the time. You need someone who plays normal Test cricket, just like Chesteshwar Pujara," he added.</p>

<p>Pujara recently scored a ton in the 2023 Duleep Trophy semi-final for West Zone. He has been replaced by the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad for the WI series, however, if he scores a bulk of runs in the domestic circuit, he might still make a comeback in the Indian team.</p>

<p>In 103 Tests, Pujara has&nbsp;7195 runs along with 19 tons and 35 half-centuries at an average of&nbsp;43.60, including a best of 206.</p>

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India are set to kick off their campaign in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle with the two-match Test series versus West Indies. The home side will host Rohit Sharma & Co.

India are set to kick off their campaign in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle with the two-match Test series versus West Indies. The home side will host Rohit Sharma & Co. in the first Test, at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica, on July 12 as India look set to start a new era in red-ball format with the additions of many youngsters in the line-up. When the Test squad for the WI series was announced, Cheteshwar Pujara's name was missing as many believe he has been made the scapegoat for India's WTC final loss versus Australia, at The Oval, London, last month. Pujara averaged 32 in the 2021-23 WTC cycle and has only scored one ton since early 2019. The right-hander's numbers have been dismal, to say the least, but the likes of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have also not performed as per expectations for quite some time. Thus, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh opined on Pujara's omission and feels he has been India's 'unsung hero' for a long time and deserves more respect. Pujara has been doing the dirty work of hanging in there' "I have a lot of respect for Chesteshwar Pujara for what he has achieved. He has been an unsung hero of the Indian team for many years now. He has been one of those pillars of strength for India, doing the dirty work of hanging in there, making sure other batters got their comfort," Harbhajan told news agency PTI. Also Read: Virat Kohli can be an option for Test captaincy if India look beyond Rohit Sharma: Former chief selector Bhajji asserted, "I believe he needs to be given a bit more respect than what he has been given and the way he was chucked out of the team was a surprise for me. Because he isn't the only one not scoring runs. There are others as well who play in that same team who are scoring runs at same average." Harbhajan also pointed out that a lot of talk has been around Pujara's strike-rate in Tests, but he feels he has also held up one end firmly with his defensive approach. "In case of Pujara, we keep hearing about his strike-rate of scoring runs in Tests but because of that strike-rate, the wickets remain intact and that's a huge contribution. So you have to see which guy is contributing what. You need to see how much the team needs him. In my opinion, the team still needs him. When you go abroad (SENA countries), you need one such batter as you can't have everyone playing strokes all the time. You need someone who plays normal Test cricket, just like Chesteshwar Pujara," he added. Pujara recently scored a ton in the 2023 Duleep Trophy semi-final for West Zone. He has been replaced by the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad for the WI series, however, if he scores a bulk of runs in the domestic circuit, he might still make a comeback in the Indian team. In 103 Tests, Pujara has 7195 runs along with 19 tons and 35 half-centuries at an average of 43.60, including a best of 206. 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 has been Team India's unsung hero': Harbhajan praises senior batter ahead of West Indies Tests

<p>Rohit Sharma-led India is set to lock horns with West Indies in the forthcoming two-match Test series, which commences on July 12. The series will kick off India's campaign in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. After finishing second in the previous two cycles, India will be desperate to get hold of the coveted Test mace and for that, they require a great start in the Caribbean.</p>

<p>Rohit has been serving as India's full-time captain since early 2022. Under him, India reached the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup but were thrashed by eventual winners England by ten wickets. In the 2021-23 WTC cycle, India played the final where Australia beat them by 209 runs, last month, at The Oval, London. Thus, the 2023-25 cycle is vital for Rohit as India will require a good start under him. Moreover, the ODI World Cup is set to take place later this year, at home, and Rohit &amp; Co. are one of the favourites.</p>

<p>Overall, a lot is riding on Rohit's shoulders at present. After India's WTC final defeat, many raised fingers at Rohit's leadership, including former cricketers such as Sunil Gavaskar. He was also trolled after India's T20 World Cup and Asia Cup debacle last year. However, he has found the backing of former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh.</p>

<h2><strong>'It is unfair to criticise Rohit alone'</strong></h2>

<p>"I find that people are going a bit overboard... the way Rohit has been criticised. Cricket is a team sport and one individual cannot take you from one place to another," Harbhajan told PTI ahead of India's Test series versus West Indies. He further opined, "Team India didn't do well in the WTC final, and yes, you talk about that performance and move on from there. But it is unfair to criticise Rohit alone, that he is not scoring runs, putting on weight, not captaining well. I think he is a brilliant leader."</p>

<p>"I have played with him (Rohit) and watched him closely. He commands a lot of respect not only in the MI dressing room but also in the Indian dressing room. So I think it's unfair to judge him on the basis of recent results. He will come good and we need to show faith in him and we need to support him rather than pinpointing that you are not doing this or that," Bhajji asserted.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-expected-more-sunil-gavaskar-on-rohit-sharmas-captaincy-performance-stst-613812">Sunil Gavaskar, disappointed with Rohit Sharma's captaincy, says he expected more</a></strong></p>

<p>In the past, Indian captains have enjoyed relentless support from&nbsp;the BCCI and its most powerful administrator. For instance, Sourav Ganguly relied on&nbsp;Jagmohan Dalmiya's support whereas MS Dhoni had the strong backing of N Srinivasan. In addition, Virat Kohli -- Rohit's predecessor -- took several decisions which were supported by&nbsp;Vinod Rai, the former CAG and Committee of Administrators (CoA) head.&nbsp;Thus,&nbsp;Harbhajan -- also known as the Turbanator -- hopes that Rohit receives the same level of support from the BCCI.</p>

<p>In this regard, Bhajji added, "If you have the support from BCCI, you can work freely. Not just MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, if you go back a little further, a lot of captains have got support from BCCI presidents of that time.</p>

<p>"Rohit must be getting support from BCCI. I don't know how much support he must be getting (though). Having that kind of support will help him take right kind of decision at the right time. He will get that liberty if he has that support. Support must be there for Rohit like BCCI has given it to all its captains."</p>

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Rohit Sharma-led India is set to lock horns with West Indies in the forthcoming two-match Test series, which commences on July 12. The series will kick off India's campaign in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

Rohit Sharma-led India is set to lock horns with West Indies in the forthcoming two-match Test series, which commences on July 12. The series will kick off India's campaign in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. After finishing second in the previous two cycles, India will be desperate to get hold of the coveted Test mace and for that, they require a great start in the Caribbean. Rohit has been serving as India's full-time captain since early 2022. Under him, India reached the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup but were thrashed by eventual winners England by ten wickets. In the 2021-23 WTC cycle, India played the final where Australia beat them by 209 runs, last month, at The Oval, London. Thus, the 2023-25 cycle is vital for Rohit as India will require a good start under him. Moreover, the ODI World Cup is set to take place later this year, at home, and Rohit & Co. are one of the favourites. Overall, a lot is riding on Rohit's shoulders at present. After India's WTC final defeat, many raised fingers at Rohit's leadership, including former cricketers such as Sunil Gavaskar. He was also trolled after India's T20 World Cup and Asia Cup debacle last year. However, he has found the backing of former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. 'It is unfair to criticise Rohit alone' "I find that people are going a bit overboard... the way Rohit has been criticised. Cricket is a team sport and one individual cannot take you from one place to another," Harbhajan told PTI ahead of India's Test series versus West Indies. He further opined, "Team India didn't do well in the WTC final, and yes, you talk about that performance and move on from there. But it is unfair to criticise Rohit alone, that he is not scoring runs, putting on weight, not captaining well. I think he is a brilliant leader." "I have played with him (Rohit) and watched him closely. He commands a lot of respect not only in the MI dressing room but also in the Indian dressing room. So I think it's unfair to judge him on the basis of recent results. He will come good and we need to show faith in him and we need to support him rather than pinpointing that you are not doing this or that," Bhajji asserted. Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar, disappointed with Rohit Sharma's captaincy, says he expected more In the past, Indian captains have enjoyed relentless support from the BCCI and its most powerful administrator. For instance, Sourav Ganguly relied on Jagmohan Dalmiya's support whereas MS Dhoni had the strong backing of N Srinivasan. In addition, Virat Kohli -- Rohit's predecessor -- took several decisions which were supported by Vinod Rai, the former CAG and Committee of Administrators (CoA) head. Thus, Harbhajan -- also known as the Turbanator -- hopes that Rohit receives the same level of support from the BCCI. In this regard, Bhajji added, "If you have the support from BCCI, you can work freely. Not just MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, if you go back a little further, a lot of captains have got support from BCCI presidents of that time. "Rohit must be getting support from BCCI. I don't know how much support he must be getting (though). Having that kind of support will help him take right kind of decision at the right time. He will get that liberty if he has that support. Support must be there for Rohit like BCCI has given it to all its captains." 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.

People are going overboard: Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire captain Rohit Sharma ahead of WI tour

<p>On June 23, the BCCI selectors named a 16-man squad for Team India's upcoming two-match Test series versus West Indies, in the Caribbean island, which commences on July 12. After Rohit Sharma-led India's humiliating loss in the WTC final to Australia, some tough decisions were expected to be taken as the axe was certainly going to fall on some senior players.</p>

<p>Thus, Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped as the selectors chose to&nbsp;include&nbsp;plenty of youngsters, such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, etc. Recently, former Indian player WV Raman opened up on Pujara's omission and feels he wasn't treated properly by the BCCI selection committee.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking to former Indian opener Aakash Chopra on his Youtube channel, Raman said, "The problem is that they have picked four possible openers, and they have dropped Pujara, which is another bone of contention. A cricketer like Pujara has done a lot for Indian cricket, and he has been instrumental for India winning both at home and abroad on quite a few occasions."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/was-india-underprepared-for-wtc-final-after-ipl-2023-sourav-ganguly-disagrees-with-the-theory-610581">Was India underprepared for WTC final after IPL 2023? Sourav Ganguly disagrees with the 'theory'</a></strong></p>

<p>Raman -- the former Indian women's team coach -- further opined, "He is a gritty customer. He was even elevated to vice-captaincy quite recently but a failure in the WTC final, he finds that he is left out in the cold. I think this is one decision that has not gone down well with many people, and I, personally, as well, I am not for it."</p>

<p>"He deserves to be treated properly. In the event, if they think it's the end of Pujara, he could have been given a better exit, but that's how things happen sometimes, and this is not the first case again. There are a lot of precedences as far as this kind of treatment is concerned," Raman added.</p>

<p>Pujara, a veteran of 103 Tests, has 7,195&nbsp;runs in the red-ball format. The right-hander has not been at his best in the recently-concluded 2021-23 WTC cycle and his poor returns in the WTC final, where he managed 14 and 27, led to his ouster, with youngsters such as Ruturaj, Ishan Kishan, Jaiswal breathing down his neck.&nbsp;It will be interesting to see if Pujara manages to make a comeback to India's Test line-up.</p>

<p><strong>India's squad for WI Tests:</strong></p>

<p>Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin,&nbsp;R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.</p>

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On June 23, the BCCI selectors named a 16-man squad for Team India's upcoming two-match Test series versus West Indies, in the Caribbean island, which commences on July 12.

On June 23, the BCCI selectors named a 16-man squad for Team India's upcoming two-match Test series versus West Indies, in the Caribbean island, which commences on July 12. After Rohit Sharma-led India's humiliating loss in the WTC final to Australia, some tough decisions were expected to be taken as the axe was certainly going to fall on some senior players. Thus, Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped as the selectors chose to include plenty of youngsters, such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, etc. Recently, former Indian player WV Raman opened up on Pujara's omission and feels he wasn't treated properly by the BCCI selection committee. Talking to former Indian opener Aakash Chopra on his Youtube channel, Raman said, "The problem is that they have picked four possible openers, and they have dropped Pujara, which is another bone of contention. A cricketer like Pujara has done a lot for Indian cricket, and he has been instrumental for India winning both at home and abroad on quite a few occasions." Also Read: Was India underprepared for WTC final after IPL 2023? Sourav Ganguly disagrees with the 'theory' Raman -- the former Indian women's team coach -- further opined, "He is a gritty customer. He was even elevated to vice-captaincy quite recently but a failure in the WTC final, he finds that he is left out in the cold. I think this is one decision that has not gone down well with many people, and I, personally, as well, I am not for it." "He deserves to be treated properly. In the event, if they think it's the end of Pujara, he could have been given a better exit, but that's how things happen sometimes, and this is not the first case again. There are a lot of precedences as far as this kind of treatment is concerned," Raman added. Pujara, a veteran of 103 Tests, has 7,195 runs in the red-ball format. The right-hander has not been at his best in the recently-concluded 2021-23 WTC cycle and his poor returns in the WTC final, where he managed 14 and 27, led to his ouster, with youngsters such as Ruturaj, Ishan Kishan, Jaiswal breathing down his neck. It will be interesting to see if Pujara manages to make a comeback to India's Test line-up. India's squad for WI Tests: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini. 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. ×

'If BCCI selectors think it's the end of him...': Former India player on Pujara's omission from WI Tests

<p>India lost the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final to Australia by 209 runs at The Oval, London early this year. They ended as the runners-up in the 2019-2021 cycle and finished at the same spot in the 2021-23 cycle. The Indian players assembled in London soon after the end of IPL 2023 and, hence, many believe it was the reason for their dismal show.</p>

<p>India opted to bowl first and had reduced Australia to 76&nbsp;for 3 before Travis Head slammed 163 and Steve Smith's 121 took Australia to 469 all-out. In reply, India got bundled out for 296, with Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) being the top scorers. Australia declared at 270 for 8 in their second essay, setting a mammoth 444-run target. Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. folded for 234 to lose convincingly on the final day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After India's poor showing, many former cricketers and experts opined that Indian players were not well prepared as they returned to the purest format after playing in the IPL for two months. Nonetheless, former Indian captain and BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly slammed such a theory.</p>

<p>“I don't agree with this theory. Ajinkya Rahane also played IPL and he played very well during IPL and World Test Championship final. So I don't believe in this theory. Some of the Australian boys (Cameron Green, David Warner), played well in IPL also and did well in World Test Championship,” Ganguly said while speaking to PTI.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cant-mix-entertainment-with-stupidity-vaughan-slams-eng-batters-for-falling-to-australias-short-ball-ploy-610516">'Can't mix entertainment with stupidity': Vaughan slams Eng batters for falling to Australia's short-ball ploy</a></strong></p>

<p>Ganguly added, "After IPL finished, there was enough time to acclimatise to Test cricket. They went to England and they played. It used to happen in the past. You played ODI cricket and you played Test cricket, things used to happen very, very quickly and so I don't believe it's an issue. So I believe that even if you play IPL, you should have the ability to adjust your technique and temperament and do well in a Test match."</p>

<p>Even in the 2019-21 WTC summit clash, where India lost to New Zealand in Southampton, the Indian players had come after playing IPL 2021. Nonetheless, the league was postponed in early May due to the COVID-19 threat. Thus, they still had over a month before the finale but lost to the Kiwis by eight wickets.</p>

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India lost the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final to Australia by 209 runs at The Oval, London early this year. They ended as the runners-up in the 2019-2021 cycle and finished at the same spot in the 2021-23 cycle.

India lost the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final to Australia by 209 runs at The Oval, London early this year. They ended as the runners-up in the 2019-2021 cycle and finished at the same spot in the 2021-23 cycle. The Indian players assembled in London soon after the end of IPL 2023 and, hence, many believe it was the reason for their dismal show. India opted to bowl first and had reduced Australia to 76 for 3 before Travis Head slammed 163 and Steve Smith's 121 took Australia to 469 all-out. In reply, India got bundled out for 296, with Ajinkya Rahane (89) and Shardul Thakur (51) being the top scorers. Australia declared at 270 for 8 in their second essay, setting a mammoth 444-run target. Rohit Sharma & Co. folded for 234 to lose convincingly on the final day. After India's poor showing, many former cricketers and experts opined that Indian players were not well prepared as they returned to the purest format after playing in the IPL for two months. Nonetheless, former Indian captain and BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly slammed such a theory. “I don't agree with this theory. Ajinkya Rahane also played IPL and he played very well during IPL and World Test Championship final. So I don't believe in this theory. Some of the Australian boys (Cameron Green, David Warner), played well in IPL also and did well in World Test Championship,” Ganguly said while speaking to PTI. Also Read: 'Can't mix entertainment with stupidity': Vaughan slams Eng batters for falling to Australia's short-ball ploy Ganguly added, "After IPL finished, there was enough time to acclimatise to Test cricket. They went to England and they played. It used to happen in the past. You played ODI cricket and you played Test cricket, things used to happen very, very quickly and so I don't believe it's an issue. So I believe that even if you play IPL, you should have the ability to adjust your technique and temperament and do well in a Test match." Even in the 2019-21 WTC summit clash, where India lost to New Zealand in Southampton, the Indian players had come after playing IPL 2021. Nonetheless, the league was postponed in early May due to the COVID-19 threat. Thus, they still had over a month before the finale but lost to the Kiwis by eight wickets. 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. ×

Was India underprepared for WTC final after IPL 2023? Sourav Ganguly disagrees with the 'theory'

<p>Truly, Cheteshwar Pujara remains the last of the Test specialists in the modern era where batters do not hesitate to go bang-bang from the word go. In an&nbsp;era with unparallel demand&nbsp;for&nbsp;quick scoring, be it any format, Pujara remains one from the old school of cricket,&nbsp;making his presence more significant in the longer version of the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nonetheless, whenever questions have been raised on India's famed batters' struggle for form, Pujara has been an easy target for critics. Call it his defensive approach, fitness issues, strike-rate woes (yes, even that is taken into account in red-ball cricket in modern times) or his stature being less than big-ticket players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Saurashtra-born batter has more often than not paid the price.</p>

<p>However, Pujara also enjoyed a lengthy rope in India's Test squad despite dwindling returns since his standout performances in the 2018/19 series against hosts Australia. Since India's first-ever Test series win in Australia, where Pujara ended with 521 runs, including three hundreds, the right-hander has struggled for consistency. He has added only one more three-figure knock under his belt, which came last December in Bangladesh (102 not out).</p>

<p>Pujara has only struck 15 fifties, in 62 innings,&nbsp;since the 2018-19 Australia tour. Thus, a long run of below-par performances have hogged his esteemed Test career. India have been unlucky to witness the fall of Rahane, Kohli, and Pujara at the same time. But, the axe has only fallen on Rahane and Pujara. Interestingly,&nbsp;the latter was offered a central contract for October-September 2022-23, while Rahane wasn't. But Rahane will board India's flight for the West Indies, where they play two Tests starting on July 12, whereas Pujara has been dropped after the squad was announced on Friday (June 23).</p>

<p>In the 16-member squad, the BCCI selectors backed a plethora of youngsters, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, and Ishan Kishan.&nbsp;Thus, the transition period has certainly kicked off in India's Test line-up after the WTC final post-mortem (where India lost the Test mace to Australia by 209 runs earlier&nbsp;this month in London).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-retains-captaincy-as-bcci-names-india-test-squad-for-wi-tour-pujara-dropped-jaiswal-ruturaj-included-607800">Rohit retains captaincy as BCCI names India Test squad for WI tour, Pujara dropped; Jaiswal, Ruturaj included</a></strong></p>

<p>Unsurprisingly, Pujara has been the first victim among batters as his twin failures in the WTC summit clash (with scores of 14 and 27) intensified his omission&nbsp;talks. We are in an era in world cricket where England's Bazball is headlining the format. Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum-led England have adopted a fearless approach, batting&nbsp;at over 4.5 runs per over (RPO), and coming up with funky field sets. With India losing the WTC final twice in a row, tough decisions were set to be made. In this aspect, Pujara's slow-burn approach has been overlooked.</p>

<p>Pujara's approach has resulted in many hard-fought and dominating wins for Team India in whites since his debut in 2010. He has stood rock solid and bailed India out of the crisis by taking body blows, concentrating hard on each ball, and trusting his defence. However, his methods have been proven outdated with the rise of young blokes (Jaiswal, Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, etc.). Pujara has never been the quickest between wickets. Age is also not on his side&nbsp;(he is 35). On the other hand,&nbsp;Rahane's 89 and 46 and Kohli's 49 (not that his place will&nbsp;ever come under the scanner) in the WTC final coincided with&nbsp;his flop show,&nbsp;leading to his exit.</p>

<p>It is to be noted that&nbsp;Pujara's numbers versus spin aren't encouraging. He has never been comfortable against the moving deliveries but&nbsp;has also been dismissed by spinners on 19 occasions since 2019 (scoring 910 at a decent 47.89). He averaged over 70 (71.51) versus the spin bowlers from 2010-2018. One might say it is a lost battle now. However, never say never. Rahane wasn't even in India's WTC final scheme of things till Shreyas Iyer got injured. Now, he has regained the vice-captaincy tag for the West Indies series.</p>

<p>Overall, Pujara's road ahead looks extremely tough. As per reports in the Times of India, he is set to feature in this year's Duleep Trophy. His appetite for runs, hunger for batting, and love for Test cricket is second to none. Thus, Pujara's days are not over yet. He is a fighter by all means. The right-hander won't back down so easily. Nonetheless, his current omission looks like a start towards the future.&nbsp;Given his below-par returns since 2019, playing style, and fitness, it does seem&nbsp;to be the right call.</p>

<p>Thus,&nbsp;the phasing out of seniors has begun with Pujara's ouster. India will kick off their all-format tour of the West Indies on July 12. They play two Tests, on July 12 and July 20.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>TEST Squad:</strong>&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin,&nbsp;R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.</p>

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Truly, Cheteshwar Pujara remains the last of the Test specialists in the modern era where batters do not hesitate to go bang-bang from the word go. In an era with unparallel demand for quick scoring, be it any format, Pujara remains one from the old school of cricket, making his presence more significant in the longer version of the game.

Truly, Cheteshwar Pujara remains the last of the Test specialists in the modern era where batters do not hesitate to go bang-bang from the word go. In an era with unparallel demand for quick scoring, be it any format, Pujara remains one from the old school of cricket, making his presence more significant in the longer version of the game. Nonetheless, whenever questions have been raised on India's famed batters' struggle for form, Pujara has been an easy target for critics. Call it his defensive approach, fitness issues, strike-rate woes (yes, even that is taken into account in red-ball cricket in modern times) or his stature being less than big-ticket players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Saurashtra-born batter has more often than not paid the price. However, Pujara also enjoyed a lengthy rope in India's Test squad despite dwindling returns since his standout performances in the 2018/19 series against hosts Australia. Since India's first-ever Test series win in Australia, where Pujara ended with 521 runs, including three hundreds, the right-hander has struggled for consistency. He has added only one more three-figure knock under his belt, which came last December in Bangladesh (102 not out). Pujara has only struck 15 fifties, in 62 innings, since the 2018-19 Australia tour. Thus, a long run of below-par performances have hogged his esteemed Test career. India have been unlucky to witness the fall of Rahane, Kohli, and Pujara at the same time. But, the axe has only fallen on Rahane and Pujara. Interestingly, the latter was offered a central contract for October-September 2022-23, while Rahane wasn't. But Rahane will board India's flight for the West Indies, where they play two Tests starting on July 12, whereas Pujara has been dropped after the squad was announced on Friday (June 23). In the 16-member squad, the BCCI selectors backed a plethora of youngsters, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, and Ishan Kishan. Thus, the transition period has certainly kicked off in India's Test line-up after the WTC final post-mortem (where India lost the Test mace to Australia by 209 runs earlier this month in London). Also Read: Rohit retains captaincy as BCCI names India Test squad for WI tour, Pujara dropped; Jaiswal, Ruturaj included Unsurprisingly, Pujara has been the first victim among batters as his twin failures in the WTC summit clash (with scores of 14 and 27) intensified his omission talks. We are in an era in world cricket where England's Bazball is headlining the format. Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum-led England have adopted a fearless approach, batting at over 4.5 runs per over (RPO), and coming up with funky field sets. With India losing the WTC final twice in a row, tough decisions were set to be made. In this aspect, Pujara's slow-burn approach has been overlooked. Pujara's approach has resulted in many hard-fought and dominating wins for Team India in whites since his debut in 2010. He has stood rock solid and bailed India out of the crisis by taking body blows, concentrating hard on each ball, and trusting his defence. However, his methods have been proven outdated with the rise of young blokes (Jaiswal, Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, etc.). Pujara has never been the quickest between wickets. Age is also not on his side (he is 35). On the other hand, Rahane's 89 and 46 and Kohli's 49 (not that his place will ever come under the scanner) in the WTC final coincided with his flop show, leading to his exit. It is to be noted that Pujara's numbers versus spin aren't encouraging. He has never been comfortable against the moving deliveries but has also been dismissed by spinners on 19 occasions since 2019 (scoring 910 at a decent 47.89). He averaged over 70 (71.51) versus the spin bowlers from 2010-2018. One might say it is a lost battle now. However, never say never. Rahane wasn't even in India's WTC final scheme of things till Shreyas Iyer got injured. Now, he has regained the vice-captaincy tag for the West Indies series. Overall, Pujara's road ahead looks extremely tough. As per reports in the Times of India, he is set to feature in this year's Duleep Trophy. His appetite for runs, hunger for batting, and love for Test cricket is second to none. Thus, Pujara's days are not over yet. He is a fighter by all means. The right-hander won't back down so easily. Nonetheless, his current omission looks like a start towards the future. Given his below-par returns since 2019, playing style, and fitness, it does seem to be the right call. Thus, the phasing out of seniors has begun with Pujara's ouster. India will kick off their all-format tour of the West Indies on July 12. They play two Tests, on July 12 and July 20. TEST Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini. 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. ×

Explained: India tour of WI | Sympathies with Cheteshwar Pujara but the right call made

<p>R Ashwin's omission from India's playing XI for the recently-held WTC final versus Australia created a huge stir on social media platforms and within the cricketing fraternity. As a result, India finished second by a huge margin, losing the coveted Test mace to Australia by 209 runs at The Oval, London.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With India missing out on winning yet another ICC title, since 2013, fans showed their frustration on the Indian players and called for the omission of some senior members. Recently, Ashwin reacted to Indian fans' outbursts while mentioning about MS Dhoni's leadership and the success India achieved under him.</p>

<p>On his Youtube channel, Ashwin began by congratulating Australia and said,&nbsp;"Congratulations Australia! It was a fantastic final and they completely deserve the win. There was a small advantage although as few players like Marnus Labuschagne played a couple of matches in county cricket. That was a small one because in a one-Test shootout you can't really say who will do what, but they thoroughly deserved it. Even in the last WTC cycle, they missed qualifying for the finals only by a whisker. They have been a consistent Test team like India."</p>

<h2><strong>'Under MS Dhoni,&nbsp;same squad of 15 and the XI will play throughput the year'</strong></h2>

<p>The veteran off-spinner highlighted Dhoni's significance as a leader and mentioned an important aspect. “It is understandable that there's a furore in India that we haven't won an ICC trophy in 10 years. I empathise with the fans. But the reaction on social media is that this player should be dropped and that player should be included. But quality of a player doesn't change overnight. Lot of us talk about MS Dhoni's leadership. What did he do? Ge kept it very simple. Under his regime, where I also played, he will pick a squad of 15. The same squad of 15 and the XI will play throughput the year. That sense of security is very important for a player,” Ashwin pointed out.</p>

<p>Under Dhoni, India won all ICC titles along with winning the Test mace.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-indian-opener-virender-sehwag-reacts-to-rumours-of-being-approached-for-chief-selectors-post-607724">Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag reacts to rumours of being approached for chief selector’s post</a></strong></p>

<p>This is not the first time when Ashwin emphasised&nbsp;on the need for sense of security among players within the dressing room. Soon after he returned to the country after WTC final snub, Ashwin talked about the "overthinker" name tag attached to him and reasoned out&nbsp;that it was&nbsp;natural for him to be "traumatised" and "overthink" knowing he has limited chances compared to a player assured of a longer run.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In&nbsp;an interaction with Indian Express, the 36-year-old Ashwin stated,&nbsp;"A lot of people marketed me and positioned me that I am an overthinker. A person who will get 15-20 matches on the go doesn’t have to be mentally overthinking. A person who knows that they will get only two games will be traumatised and will be overthinking because it’s my job. It’s my journey. So this is what suits me. If somebody is going to tell me, ‘you’re going to play 15 matches, you will be looked after, you will be this, you are responsible for players, you are in the leadership role, I won’t be overthinking. Why would I?"</p>

<p>Ashwin will now gear up for India's two-match Test series versus hosts West Indies, which will kick off Rohit &amp; Co.'s run in WTC 2023-25 cycle, starting on July 12.</p>

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R Ashwin's omission from India's playing XI for the recently-held WTC final versus Australia created a huge stir on social media platforms and within the cricketing fraternity.

R Ashwin's omission from India's playing XI for the recently-held WTC final versus Australia created a huge stir on social media platforms and within the cricketing fraternity. As a result, India finished second by a huge margin, losing the coveted Test mace to Australia by 209 runs at The Oval, London. With India missing out on winning yet another ICC title, since 2013, fans showed their frustration on the Indian players and called for the omission of some senior members. Recently, Ashwin reacted to Indian fans' outbursts while mentioning about MS Dhoni's leadership and the success India achieved under him. On his Youtube channel, Ashwin began by congratulating Australia and said, "Congratulations Australia! It was a fantastic final and they completely deserve the win. There was a small advantage although as few players like Marnus Labuschagne played a couple of matches in county cricket. That was a small one because in a one-Test shootout you can't really say who will do what, but they thoroughly deserved it. Even in the last WTC cycle, they missed qualifying for the finals only by a whisker. They have been a consistent Test team like India." 'Under MS Dhoni, same squad of 15 and the XI will play throughput the year' The veteran off-spinner highlighted Dhoni's significance as a leader and mentioned an important aspect. “It is understandable that there's a furore in India that we haven't won an ICC trophy in 10 years. I empathise with the fans. But the reaction on social media is that this player should be dropped and that player should be included. But quality of a player doesn't change overnight. Lot of us talk about MS Dhoni's leadership. What did he do? Ge kept it very simple. Under his regime, where I also played, he will pick a squad of 15. The same squad of 15 and the XI will play throughput the year. That sense of security is very important for a player,” Ashwin pointed out. Under Dhoni, India won all ICC titles along with winning the Test mace. Also Read: Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag reacts to rumours of being approached for chief selector’s post This is not the first time when Ashwin emphasised on the need for sense of security among players within the dressing room. Soon after he returned to the country after WTC final snub, Ashwin talked about the "overthinker" name tag attached to him and reasoned out that it was natural for him to be "traumatised" and "overthink" knowing he has limited chances compared to a player assured of a longer run. In an interaction with Indian Express, the 36-year-old Ashwin stated, "A lot of people marketed me and positioned me that I am an overthinker. A person who will get 15-20 matches on the go doesn’t have to be mentally overthinking. A person who knows that they will get only two games will be traumatised and will be overthinking because it’s my job. It’s my journey. So this is what suits me. If somebody is going to tell me, ‘you’re going to play 15 matches, you will be looked after, you will be this, you are responsible for players, you are in the leadership role, I won’t be overthinking. Why would I?" Ashwin will now gear up for India's two-match Test series versus hosts West Indies, which will kick off Rohit & Co.'s run in WTC 2023-25 cycle, starting on July 12. 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. ×

R Ashwin credits MS Dhoni for creating 'sense of security' in Team India after WTC final snub

<p>Alex Carey has been one of Australia's key performers across formats. Despite a dismal run with the bat in Australia's four-match Test series versus India, early this year in the subcontinent, Carey has come up with vital knocks in the WTC final, versus India, and even during the ongoing opening Test of Ashes 2023 versus arch-rivals England. In the WTC summit clash, he returned with scores of 48 and 66 not out, whereas he also scored a 99-ball 66 in Australia's first innings of the Edgbaston Test versus Ben Stokes' England.</p>

<p>During the India tour, Carey failed to get going due to his shot selections. Even in the first innings of the WTC final, he fell for 48 playing a reverse sweep.&nbsp;Speaking to&nbsp;<i>Cricket.com.au</i>,&nbsp;Carey commented on his dismissal, saying, "There was no need to play that at The Oval in the first innings."&nbsp;Further, he revealed the response he got from two of the finest modern-day batters Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for playing the reverse sweep, forcing him to keep away from the stroke.</p>

<p>“When you have Virat Kohli and Steve Smith saying, 'What are you doing that for?', you probably listen to them,” Carey revealed.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-english-fans-mock-steve-smith-with-saw-you-crying-on-telly-on-day-4-of-edgbaston-test-watch-606434">Ashes 2023: English fans mock Steve Smith with 'saw you cry on telly' chants in Edgbaston Test - Watch</a></strong></p>

<p>At present, Carey-starrer Australia are involved in an exciting first Test of Ashes 2023 in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Opting to bat first, Stokes-led England posted 393 for 8 declare, riding on Joe Root's 118 not out before Australia made 386 all-out in reply. With a slender lead of seven runs, England gave a 282-run target to the visitors as Pat Cummins &amp; Co. were 107 for 3 at stumps on the penultimate day on Monday (June 19). The fifth and final day's start has been delayed due to rain as Australia need another 174 runs whereas England are seven wickets away from a memorable win.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Usman Khawaja, unbeaten on 34, Carey, Travis Head, etc. will hold the key for Australia on the final day.</p>

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Alex Carey has been one of Australia's key performers across formats. Despite a dismal run with the bat in Australia's four-match Test series versus India, early this year in the subcontinent, Carey has come up with vital knocks in the WTC final, versus India, and even during the ongoing opening Test of Ashes 2023 versus arch-rivals England.

Alex Carey has been one of Australia's key performers across formats. Despite a dismal run with the bat in Australia's four-match Test series versus India, early this year in the subcontinent, Carey has come up with vital knocks in the WTC final, versus India, and even during the ongoing opening Test of Ashes 2023 versus arch-rivals England. In the WTC summit clash, he returned with scores of 48 and 66 not out, whereas he also scored a 99-ball 66 in Australia's first innings of the Edgbaston Test versus Ben Stokes' England. During the India tour, Carey failed to get going due to his shot selections. Even in the first innings of the WTC final, he fell for 48 playing a reverse sweep. Speaking to Cricket.com.au, Carey commented on his dismissal, saying, "There was no need to play that at The Oval in the first innings." Further, he revealed the response he got from two of the finest modern-day batters Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for playing the reverse sweep, forcing him to keep away from the stroke. “When you have Virat Kohli and Steve Smith saying, 'What are you doing that for?', you probably listen to them,” Carey revealed. Also Read: Ashes 2023: English fans mock Steve Smith with 'saw you cry on telly' chants in Edgbaston Test - Watch At present, Carey-starrer Australia are involved in an exciting first Test of Ashes 2023 in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Opting to bat first, Stokes-led England posted 393 for 8 declare, riding on Joe Root's 118 not out before Australia made 386 all-out in reply. With a slender lead of seven runs, England gave a 282-run target to the visitors as Pat Cummins & Co. were 107 for 3 at stumps on the penultimate day on Monday (June 19). The fifth and final day's start has been delayed due to rain as Australia need another 174 runs whereas England are seven wickets away from a memorable win. Usman Khawaja, unbeaten on 34, Carey, Travis Head, etc. will hold the key for Australia on the final day. 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. ×

'What are you doing that for?': Alex Carey shares Virat Kohli's reaction on his WTC final dismissal

<p>India locked horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and lost by 209 runs at The Oval, London earlier this month. With another failure in an ICC event, India's trophyless run continues in mega tournaments since 2013. Ever since Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy from Virat Kohli, he was expected to take the national side to some big wins in ICC events. But India have failed twice under his leadership. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, India were hammered by eventual winners England by ten wickets and now lost to Australia in the WTC finale.</p>

<p>India's ICC title drought continues since 2013 when they won the ICC Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni. Thus, a lot of questions are now being raised about Rohit's captaincy. He has a herculean task ahead as Hitman not only needs to win the next ICC tournament, i.e. the 2023 ODI World Cup at home later this year&nbsp;but find an able successor for a smooth transition. While many are calling for his removal as captain, especially in whites, former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has backed him.</p>

<h2><strong>'I think he is a very good captain. I like his aggressive approach'</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking to&nbsp;<i>RevSportz</i>&nbsp;after India's&nbsp;WTC final loss,&nbsp;Clarke stated, "I would be keeping the faith with Rohit. I think he is a very good captain. I like his aggressive approach, he looks to be as positive as he can be. He has had a lot of success as a leader. Look at his IPL record for Mumbai (Indians). Just because India didn’t win the Test World Championship doesn’t mean Rohit is not the right guy to lead India. The fact that India qualified again, they are the only team to make consecutive finals, says a lot about how they have played their Test cricket over the past four years. It is also a very important time for stability with the One-Day World Cup right around the corner."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-need-closure-r-ashwin-reflects-on-his-tweet-after-indias-big-loss-in-wtc-final-vs-australia-606352">'I need closure': R Ashwin reflects on his tweet after India's big loss in WTC final vs Australia</a></strong></p>

<p>Clarke added, "He has done well as a batter as well. Think of his hundred in the last series. Losing a one-off final doesn't make him a bad captain and nor does it make India a bad team. To make consecutive finals isn't easy. What it means is that India was the only team to play consistently well over a period of four years. To do so in Test cricket is commendable and I would urge you to look at that as well before making any kind of judgment call."</p>

<p>Team India have a lot on their plate going forward. They need to start the 2023-25 WTC cycle on a positive note, start looking at the future, groom young leaders and aim to end their ICC title drought later this year with the ODI WC to be held at home. Will Rohit deliver as captain? Only time will tell...</p>

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India locked horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and lost by 209 runs at The Oval, London earlier this month. With another failure in an ICC event, India's trophyless run continues in mega tournaments since 2013.

India locked horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and lost by 209 runs at The Oval, London earlier this month. With another failure in an ICC event, India's trophyless run continues in mega tournaments since 2013. Ever since Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy from Virat Kohli, he was expected to take the national side to some big wins in ICC events. But India have failed twice under his leadership. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, India were hammered by eventual winners England by ten wickets and now lost to Australia in the WTC finale. India's ICC title drought continues since 2013 when they won the ICC Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni. Thus, a lot of questions are now being raised about Rohit's captaincy. He has a herculean task ahead as Hitman not only needs to win the next ICC tournament, i.e. the 2023 ODI World Cup at home later this year but find an able successor for a smooth transition. While many are calling for his removal as captain, especially in whites, former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has backed him. 'I think he is a very good captain. I like his aggressive approach' Speaking to RevSportz after India's WTC final loss, Clarke stated, "I would be keeping the faith with Rohit. I think he is a very good captain. I like his aggressive approach, he looks to be as positive as he can be. He has had a lot of success as a leader. Look at his IPL record for Mumbai (Indians). Just because India didn’t win the Test World Championship doesn’t mean Rohit is not the right guy to lead India. The fact that India qualified again, they are the only team to make consecutive finals, says a lot about how they have played their Test cricket over the past four years. It is also a very important time for stability with the One-Day World Cup right around the corner." Also Read: 'I need closure': R Ashwin reflects on his tweet after India's big loss in WTC final vs Australia Clarke added, "He has done well as a batter as well. Think of his hundred in the last series. Losing a one-off final doesn't make him a bad captain and nor does it make India a bad team. To make consecutive finals isn't easy. What it means is that India was the only team to play consistently well over a period of four years. To do so in Test cricket is commendable and I would urge you to look at that as well before making any kind of judgment call." Team India have a lot on their plate going forward. They need to start the 2023-25 WTC cycle on a positive note, start looking at the future, groom young leaders and aim to end their ICC title drought later this year with the ODI WC to be held at home. Will Rohit deliver as captain? Only time will tell... 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. ×

'Just because they didn’t win WTC final...': Former Aussie skipper backs Rohit Sharma to remain India captain

<p>Rohit Sharma-led India had a chance to end their ten-year-long ICC title drought when they faced Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, London early this month. However, India fell flat and lost the game by a whopping 209-run margin with many questioning the performances of their top players and omission of No. 1 ranked Test bowler R Ashwin. Soon after India's defeat, Ashwin took to his official Twitter handle to share a post on the loss.</p>

<p>Ashwin wrote, "Congratulations Australia on winning this #WTCFinal and closing out this cycle of test cricket. It is disappointing to end up on the wrong side of things, nevertheless it was a great effort over the last 2 years or so to get here in the first place. Amidst all the chaos and scathing assessments, I&nbsp;feel it’s very important to acknowledge all my team mates who played in this cycle and most importantly the coaching and support staffs who have held on like a rock of support."</p>

<p>Recently, in a conversation with the Indian Express, the 36-year-old Ashwin reflected on his tweet. The veteran offie&nbsp;explained that the post was an act to get closure for him to move past the heartbreaking episode. In addition, he opened up on the stress it put on his family, especially his ailing father.</p>

<h2><strong>'The moment I get the closure I can move on'</strong></h2>

<p>Ashwin said, "The moment, the final finished I put out a tweet because I realised one thing is that I need closure. The moment I get the closure I can move on. There is no time to hang around. I have understood life a lot better now.</p>

<p>The more I see it, the kind of trauma toll it takes on my family is incredible. My father has a heart problem and other issues. Every single game, every single day, something happens, he will call me. He is stressed. It’s very easy for me to go out and play because it is still in my control. For my father, it is not and he goes through double of what I do. So looking at this in hindsight, everybody on the outside is irrelevant."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-david-warner-confident-of-australia-going-long-way-on-final-day-sans-rain-interruption-606300">Ashes 2023: David Warner confident of Australia 'going long way' on final day sans rain interruption</a></strong></p>

<p>Ashwin opined on his non-selection and added, "I have got no sympathy for my journey. It’s very easy for me to go back and say, okay, this didn’t happen for me or something happened for him. I don’t give myself one second of sympathy. That’s why I put that tweet because I wanted closure. I hated the fact that people are giving me sympathy, I just couldn’t take it anymore."</p>

<p>In this social media age, you don’t play and sometimes you are bigger than if you had played the game, right? People are talking, ‘if he had played we would have won’. I am not sure if I had played, we would have won. I would have given my best and I definitely think I gave myself the best opportunity to succeed there. I also think I earned my stripes. That’s all I can do. But the moment it got done, I just wanted to move on and focus on the TNPL for Dindigul Dragons."</p>

<p>Ashwin, with 474 Test scalps, will now shift his focus on India's 2023-25 WTC cycle which commences with a two-match Test series versus West Indies in the Caribbean island from next month.</p>

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Rohit Sharma-led India had a chance to end their ten-year-long ICC title drought when they faced Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, London early this month.

Rohit Sharma-led India had a chance to end their ten-year-long ICC title drought when they faced Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, London early this month. However, India fell flat and lost the game by a whopping 209-run margin with many questioning the performances of their top players and omission of No. 1 ranked Test bowler R Ashwin. Soon after India's defeat, Ashwin took to his official Twitter handle to share a post on the loss. Ashwin wrote, "Congratulations Australia on winning this #WTCFinal and closing out this cycle of test cricket. It is disappointing to end up on the wrong side of things, nevertheless it was a great effort over the last 2 years or so to get here in the first place. Amidst all the chaos and scathing assessments, I feel it’s very important to acknowledge all my team mates who played in this cycle and most importantly the coaching and support staffs who have held on like a rock of support." Recently, in a conversation with the Indian Express, the 36-year-old Ashwin reflected on his tweet. The veteran offie explained that the post was an act to get closure for him to move past the heartbreaking episode. In addition, he opened up on the stress it put on his family, especially his ailing father. 'The moment I get the closure I can move on' Ashwin said, "The moment, the final finished I put out a tweet because I realised one thing is that I need closure. The moment I get the closure I can move on. There is no time to hang around. I have understood life a lot better now. The more I see it, the kind of trauma toll it takes on my family is incredible. My father has a heart problem and other issues. Every single game, every single day, something happens, he will call me. He is stressed. It’s very easy for me to go out and play because it is still in my control. For my father, it is not and he goes through double of what I do. So looking at this in hindsight, everybody on the outside is irrelevant." Also Read: Ashes 2023: David Warner confident of Australia 'going long way' on final day sans rain interruption Ashwin opined on his non-selection and added, "I have got no sympathy for my journey. It’s very easy for me to go back and say, okay, this didn’t happen for me or something happened for him. I don’t give myself one second of sympathy. That’s why I put that tweet because I wanted closure. I hated the fact that people are giving me sympathy, I just couldn’t take it anymore." In this social media age, you don’t play and sometimes you are bigger than if you had played the game, right? People are talking, ‘if he had played we would have won’. I am not sure if I had played, we would have won. I would have given my best and I definitely think I gave myself the best opportunity to succeed there. I also think I earned my stripes. That’s all I can do. But the moment it got done, I just wanted to move on and focus on the TNPL for Dindigul Dragons." Ashwin, with 474 Test scalps, will now shift his focus on India's 2023-25 WTC cycle which commences with a two-match Test series versus West Indies in the Caribbean island from 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. ×

'I need closure': R Ashwin reflects on his tweet after India's big loss in WTC final vs Australia

<p>Despite being the No. 1 Test bowler, R Ashwin was not part of Rohit Sharma-led India's playing XI in their recent loss in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia at The Oval, London early this month. His exclusion shocked many to the core as India lost to the Aussies by 209 runs,&nbsp;missing&nbsp;another opportunity to win an ICC title since 2013.</p>

<p>Over the years, Ashwin has maintained his dominance in Tests in home conditions, whereas he has also played a crucial part in the team's success overseas, especially since 2018. Nonetheless, he remains second after Ravindra Jadeja as the spin-bowling all-rounder when India tour&nbsp;out of the subcontinent (i.e. in SENA countries). Recently, Ashwin opened up about not getting enough opportunities while playing overseas. In addition, he&nbsp;made a big claim about being denied Test captaincy.</p>

<h2><strong>'A person who knows that they will get only two games will be traumatised'</strong></h2>

<p>In an exclusive interaction with Indian Express, Ashwin&nbsp;said: "A lot of people marketed me and positioned me that I am an overthinker. A person who will get 15-20 matches on the go doesn’t have to be mentally overthinking. A person who knows that they will get only two games will be traumatised and will be overthinking because it’s my job. It’s my journey. So this is what suits me. If somebody is going to tell me, ‘you’re going to play 15 matches, you will be looked after, you will be this, you are responsible for players, you are in the leadership role, I won’t be overthinking. Why would I?"</p>

<p>"It’s unfair to actually say somebody’s an overthinker because that person’s journey is his own. And nobody has a right or business to do that."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-100-certain-rohit-sharma-will-remain-test-captain-says-former-indian-openers-after-wtc-final-debacle-606047">Not 100% certain Rohit Sharma will remain Test captain, says former Indian opener after WTC final debacle</a></strong></p>

<h2>'If I earned it, it’s got to be there'</h2>

<p>Further, the 36-year-old Ashwin opened up on being denied Test captaincy despite being a great reader of the game.&nbsp;"It (overthinking tag) was created to work against me, right? And as I said, there have been statements that people have made all along when leadership question has come my way, there have been people who are been out there telling, my name is not the first name on the sheet when India tour abroad."</p>

<p>"Whether that name is first on the sheet or not is something I can’t control. If I earned it, it’s got to be there and that’s my belief. As I said, I have no complaints, I have no time to sit back and throw punches or regret or anything. I have no regrets about anyone," he added.</p>

<p>The sad reality is that Ashwin has never even been named as the vice-captain in whites, although he remains a crucial part of the leadership group.</p>

<p>Ashwin came back to India after the WTC final and is leading the Dindigul Dragons in Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2023 edition. He will gear up to lead the spin department when India travel to the West Indies for two Tests next month. The tour will also comprise three ODIs and five T20Is.</p>

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Despite being the No. 1 Test bowler, R Ashwin was not part of Rohit Sharma-led India's playing XI in their recent loss in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia at The Oval, London early this month.

Despite being the No. 1 Test bowler, R Ashwin was not part of Rohit Sharma-led India's playing XI in their recent loss in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia at The Oval, London early this month. His exclusion shocked many to the core as India lost to the Aussies by 209 runs, missing another opportunity to win an ICC title since 2013. Over the years, Ashwin has maintained his dominance in Tests in home conditions, whereas he has also played a crucial part in the team's success overseas, especially since 2018. Nonetheless, he remains second after Ravindra Jadeja as the spin-bowling all-rounder when India tour out of the subcontinent (i.e. in SENA countries). Recently, Ashwin opened up about not getting enough opportunities while playing overseas. In addition, he made a big claim about being denied Test captaincy. 'A person who knows that they will get only two games will be traumatised' In an exclusive interaction with Indian Express, Ashwin said: "A lot of people marketed me and positioned me that I am an overthinker. A person who will get 15-20 matches on the go doesn’t have to be mentally overthinking. A person who knows that they will get only two games will be traumatised and will be overthinking because it’s my job. It’s my journey. So this is what suits me. If somebody is going to tell me, ‘you’re going to play 15 matches, you will be looked after, you will be this, you are responsible for players, you are in the leadership role, I won’t be overthinking. Why would I?" "It’s unfair to actually say somebody’s an overthinker because that person’s journey is his own. And nobody has a right or business to do that." Also Read: Not 100% certain Rohit Sharma will remain Test captain, says former Indian opener after WTC final debacle 'If I earned it, it’s got to be there' Further, the 36-year-old Ashwin opened up on being denied Test captaincy despite being a great reader of the game. "It (overthinking tag) was created to work against me, right? And as I said, there have been statements that people have made all along when leadership question has come my way, there have been people who are been out there telling, my name is not the first name on the sheet when India tour abroad." "Whether that name is first on the sheet or not is something I can’t control. If I earned it, it’s got to be there and that’s my belief. As I said, I have no complaints, I have no time to sit back and throw punches or regret or anything. I have no regrets about anyone," he added. The sad reality is that Ashwin has never even been named as the vice-captain in whites, although he remains a crucial part of the leadership group. Ashwin came back to India after the WTC final and is leading the Dindigul Dragons in Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2023 edition. He will gear up to lead the spin department when India travel to the West Indies for two Tests next month. The tour will also comprise three ODIs and five T20Is. 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. ×

R Ashwin opens up on being denied India Test captaincy after WTC final snub

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<p>Ravi Ashwin, ranked number one bowler in Tests, has opened up on the dressing room atmosphere in today’s cricket. India’s most successful off-spinner with 474 wickets under his belt, Ashwin was left out of the playing XI against Australia in the WTC Final, a one-off clash that the Aussies won by 209 runs at the Oval in London. That decision was widely criticised.</p>

<p>Having been around the Indian cricket circuit for over 13 years, Ravi Ashwin evolved as a player and has seen a lot of stuff unfolding in Indian cricket in the past decade.</p>

<p>In this fast-moving age of franchise-based T20 Cricket Leagues, with players from every country playing alongside each other, the consensus was that there would be a friendly environment – but that’s not the case.</p>

<p>Ashwin’s latest remarks shed some light into this situation.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-cheteshwar-pujara-set-to-return-to-english-county-after-west-indies-tour-605784">Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara set to return to English County after West Indies tour</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;
<p>Speaking with the Indian Express newspaper in an exclusive chat, Ashwin opened up on how things pan out in the dressing room nowadays.</p>
</p>

<p>Elaborating on the competitive culture growing among teammates irrespective of the formats, Ashwin said how, unlike earlier times when teammates were actually friends, it changed now as he feels players playing together are mere colleagues nowadays.</p>

<p>“This is an era where everybody is a colleague. Once upon a time, when cricket was played, all your teammates were friends. Now, they’re colleagues. There’s a big difference because here people are there to advance themselves and to stride ahead of another person sitting to your right or left,” Ashwin told the Indian Express.</p>

<p>Ashwin, who despite leading the wickets column for India in the latest WTC cycle, didn’t find a spot in the XI in the all-important clash, said with players sharing their journeys, it gets easier to learn and grow from that, something that is completely missing in today’s world.</p>

<p>“In fact, I believe cricket gets better when you share it. It gets better when you when you understand another person’s technique and another person’s journey. But it doesn’t happen anywhere close to how much it must happen,” Ashwin added.</p>

<h2>Ashwin-less India struggled in the UK</h2>

<p>Dropping Ashwin meant India played with four seamers, including a seam-bowling all-rounder in Shardul Thakur, alongside one spinner – Ravindra Jadeja. While this combination looked best on paper, things changed quickly during the first hour on day one with green turf underneath and an overcast sky above.</p>

<p>As the game progressed, with Australia taking lead from day one, came a point on the final day when Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon turned the game on his head and helped his team win the crucial match, raising questions over Ashwin’s absence in the XI.</p>

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Ravi Ashwin, ranked number one bowler in Tests, has opened up on the dressing room atmosphere in today’s cricket. India’s most successful off-spinner with 474 wickets under his belt, Ashwin was left out of the playing XI against Australia in the WTC Final, a one-off clash that the Aussies won by 209 runs at the Oval in London.

Ravi Ashwin, ranked number one bowler in Tests, has opened up on the dressing room atmosphere in today’s cricket. India’s most successful off-spinner with 474 wickets under his belt, Ashwin was left out of the playing XI against Australia in the WTC Final, a one-off clash that the Aussies won by 209 runs at the Oval in London. That decision was widely criticised. Having been around the Indian cricket circuit for over 13 years, Ravi Ashwin evolved as a player and has seen a lot of stuff unfolding in Indian cricket in the past decade. In this fast-moving age of franchise-based T20 Cricket Leagues, with players from every country playing alongside each other, the consensus was that there would be a friendly environment – but that’s not the case. Ashwin’s latest remarks shed some light into this situation. ALSO READ: Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara set to return to English County after West Indies tour Speaking with the Indian Express newspaper in an exclusive chat, Ashwin opened up on how things pan out in the dressing room nowadays. Elaborating on the competitive culture growing among teammates irrespective of the formats, Ashwin said how, unlike earlier times when teammates were actually friends, it changed now as he feels players playing together are mere colleagues nowadays. “This is an era where everybody is a colleague. Once upon a time, when cricket was played, all your teammates were friends. Now, they’re colleagues. There’s a big difference because here people are there to advance themselves and to stride ahead of another person sitting to your right or left,” Ashwin told the Indian Express. Ashwin, who despite leading the wickets column for India in the latest WTC cycle, didn’t find a spot in the XI in the all-important clash, said with players sharing their journeys, it gets easier to learn and grow from that, something that is completely missing in today’s world. “In fact, I believe cricket gets better when you share it. It gets better when you when you understand another person’s technique and another person’s journey. But it doesn’t happen anywhere close to how much it must happen,” Ashwin added. Ashwin-less India struggled in the UK Dropping Ashwin meant India played with four seamers, including a seam-bowling all-rounder in Shardul Thakur, alongside one spinner – Ravindra Jadeja. While this combination looked best on paper, things changed quickly during the first hour on day one with green turf underneath and an overcast sky above. As the game progressed, with Australia taking lead from day one, came a point on the final day when Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon turned the game on his head and helped his team win the crucial match, raising questions over Ashwin’s absence in the XI. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Teammates are no longer friends', says Ravi Ashwin on dressing room atmosphere

<p>After India's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final loss to Australia early this month, questions were raised on Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian think tank. Skipper Rohit and head coach Dravid were criticised for their decision to drop R Ashwin from the playing XI as India once again faltered in a big chance to lift a mega title and end their ten-year-long ICC trophy drought.</p>

<p>As India are set to kick off their campaign in the current WTC 2023-25 cycle, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra made a big claim on Rohit. Chopra is not 100 per cent confident that Rohit will continue as the Test captain in this WTC cycle.</p>

<p>"Rohit Sharma is a good captain. That is out of the question, understands the pulse of the game, doesn’t make common mistakes. He’s very decent. The question is not about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. It’s about playing XI (for the WTC final). The next question is on the type of pitches they play at home. See, all these decisions are taken by the team management. I am sure Rohit Sharma would’ve been part of the think tank when Virat Kohli was the captain. Now Kohli will also be part of that group too. However, the responsibility lies with the one who goes for the toss. The focus now is on Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid like it was before on Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri. This is the sad reality," Chopra said&nbsp;on his YouTube video.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-charges-around-1-million-per-instagram-post-net-worth-of-approximate-126-million-report-605954">Virat Kohli charges around $1 million per Instagram post, net worth approximately $126mn: Report</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>'I am not 100% certain because you have...'</strong></h2>

<p>Chopra further opined, "Rohit is a good captain, there is no doubt about that. Rohit is a good Test batter, there is no doubt about that as well, but will the future remain like this only - I am not 100% certain because you have reached the final in the last two cycles but haven't won even once, and age is not on his side, this is the reality. When you see the next two years, and another WTC cycle - 2025, Rohit Sharma could still be playing Test cricket if he really wants to play Test cricket. Six series is a lot of time."</p>

<p>"Can the selectors, by the end of 2023, when you come back from South Africa, start thinking about the next WTC final? One year will remain. There will be five Test matches against England. Then you have to go to Australia, so should they look for a change? This is going to be an interesting one," the ex-Indian batter&nbsp;added.</p>

<p>In the WTC 2023-25 cycle, India will tour West Indies, Australia, and South Africa whereas they will host England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. After ending second in the previous two WTC cycles, they will aim to win the title this time around.&nbsp;</p>

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After India's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final loss to Australia early this month, questions were raised on Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian think tank.

After India's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final loss to Australia early this month, questions were raised on Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian think tank. Skipper Rohit and head coach Dravid were criticised for their decision to drop R Ashwin from the playing XI as India once again faltered in a big chance to lift a mega title and end their ten-year-long ICC trophy drought. As India are set to kick off their campaign in the current WTC 2023-25 cycle, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra made a big claim on Rohit. Chopra is not 100 per cent confident that Rohit will continue as the Test captain in this WTC cycle. "Rohit Sharma is a good captain. That is out of the question, understands the pulse of the game, doesn’t make common mistakes. He’s very decent. The question is not about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. It’s about playing XI (for the WTC final). The next question is on the type of pitches they play at home. See, all these decisions are taken by the team management. I am sure Rohit Sharma would’ve been part of the think tank when Virat Kohli was the captain. Now Kohli will also be part of that group too. However, the responsibility lies with the one who goes for the toss. The focus now is on Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid like it was before on Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri. This is the sad reality," Chopra said on his YouTube video. Also Read: Virat Kohli charges around $1 million per Instagram post, net worth approximately $126mn: Report 'I am not 100% certain because you have...' Chopra further opined, "Rohit is a good captain, there is no doubt about that. Rohit is a good Test batter, there is no doubt about that as well, but will the future remain like this only - I am not 100% certain because you have reached the final in the last two cycles but haven't won even once, and age is not on his side, this is the reality. When you see the next two years, and another WTC cycle - 2025, Rohit Sharma could still be playing Test cricket if he really wants to play Test cricket. Six series is a lot of time." "Can the selectors, by the end of 2023, when you come back from South Africa, start thinking about the next WTC final? One year will remain. There will be five Test matches against England. Then you have to go to Australia, so should they look for a change? This is going to be an interesting one," the ex-Indian batter added. In the WTC 2023-25 cycle, India will tour West Indies, Australia, and South Africa whereas they will host England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. After ending second in the previous two WTC cycles, they will aim to win the title this time around. 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. ×

Not 100% certain Rohit Sharma will remain Test captain, says former Indian opener after WTC final debacle

<p>Modern-day best Test batter Steve Smith says that for the English and Australian players winning the Ashes is above everything else. As the Ashes 2023 gets underway in Edgbaston on Friday, Smith talked about the 140-year-plus-old history of this iconic rivalry and its importance for both teams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of the start of the first Test, Australia beat India by 209 runs to win their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) Final at the Oval. Smith, who became the second Aussie batter after Travis Head to complete a hundred in the WTC Final, said he enjoyed lifting the Test mace, but to him, winning as Ashes would still top everything.</p>

<p>Smith's maiden WTC Final hundred, his 31st overall in Tests, helped Australia put a mammoth 469 in the first innings against India. After the Aussies wrapped up India's first innings on 296, they piled up 270 for eight (declared) and gave India a daunting target of 444. Following a cautious start, the Indian batters failed to stick as they got all out on 234, thus going down by 209 runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-bazball-to-keep-draw-out-of-equation-says-nasser-hussain-605127">Ashes 2023: 'Bazball' to keep draw out of equation, says Nasser Hussain</a></p>

<p>“We had a great last week winning the Test championship. It was two years of hard work that went into it. It was a really proud moment for all the boys, but yeah, the Ashes, for Australia and England cricketers, is the pinnacle. We work for it throughout our life, so it's going to be exciting,” Smith said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, England's track record under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has been excellent, with them winning 11 of the last 13 matches. Australia, which holds a better head-to-head record (34-32), are up for the challenge, and Smith feels the upcoming series will be an exciting contest.</p>

<p>“Just the history of it. Australia and England, it's the biggest series. It's the one you want to do really well in, and hope your team has success. The way England have been in playing, the way we have been playing, it's going to be exciting series. The boys can't wait to get into it,” added former Australia skipper Smith.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Here is the Ashes schedule -</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>First Test (Edgbaston) - June 16 - June 20</li>
	<li>Second Test (Lord's) - June 28 - July 2</li>
	<li>Third Test (Clean Slate Headingley) - July 6 - July 10</li>
	<li>Fourth Test (Emirates Old Trafford) - July 19 - July 23</li>
	<li>Fifth Test (The Kia Oval) - July 27 - July 31</li>
</ul>

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Modern-day best Test batter Steve Smith says that for the English and Australian players winning the Ashes is above everything else. As the Ashes 2023 gets underway in Edgbaston on Friday, Smith talked about the 140-year-plus-old history of this iconic rivalry and its importance for both teams.

Modern-day best Test batter Steve Smith says that for the English and Australian players winning the Ashes is above everything else. As the Ashes 2023 gets underway in Edgbaston on Friday, Smith talked about the 140-year-plus-old history of this iconic rivalry and its importance for both teams. Ahead of the start of the first Test, Australia beat India by 209 runs to win their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) Final at the Oval. Smith, who became the second Aussie batter after Travis Head to complete a hundred in the WTC Final, said he enjoyed lifting the Test mace, but to him, winning as Ashes would still top everything. Smith's maiden WTC Final hundred, his 31st overall in Tests, helped Australia put a mammoth 469 in the first innings against India. After the Aussies wrapped up India's first innings on 296, they piled up 270 for eight (declared) and gave India a daunting target of 444. Following a cautious start, the Indian batters failed to stick as they got all out on 234, thus going down by 209 runs. ALSO READ: Ashes 2023: 'Bazball' to keep draw out of equation, says Nasser Hussain “We had a great last week winning the Test championship. It was two years of hard work that went into it. It was a really proud moment for all the boys, but yeah, the Ashes, for Australia and England cricketers, is the pinnacle. We work for it throughout our life, so it's going to be exciting,” Smith said, as quoted by Hindustan Times. Meanwhile, England's track record under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has been excellent, with them winning 11 of the last 13 matches. Australia, which holds a better head-to-head record (34-32), are up for the challenge, and Smith feels the upcoming series will be an exciting contest. “Just the history of it. Australia and England, it's the biggest series. It's the one you want to do really well in, and hope your team has success. The way England have been in playing, the way we have been playing, it's going to be exciting series. The boys can't wait to get into it,” added former Australia skipper Smith. Here is the Ashes schedule - First Test (Edgbaston) - June 16 - June 20 Second Test (Lord's) - June 28 - July 2 Third Test (Clean Slate Headingley) - July 6 - July 10 Fourth Test (Emirates Old Trafford) - July 19 - July 23 Fifth Test (The Kia Oval) - July 27 - July 31 WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

For WTC Final we work for two years, for Ashes we work throughout our life: Steve Smith

<p>Ravi Ashwin, the number one ranked bowler in Tests, didn't make it to the final XI against Australia in the WTC Final, and it's fair to say it raised a few eyebrows. As India lost its second straight WTC Final, this time by 209 runs, Ashwin's surprise exclusion triggered a debate among fans on social media over BCCI's move to play four seamers and Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spinner.</p>

<p>India's most successful off-spinner in this format, Ashwin, opened up on his exclusion saga, revealing he knew about this decision two days before the start of the WTC Final. In a conversation with the Indian Express and the Hindu, the veteran bowler admitted taking the development as a stumbling block, not a setback.</p>

<p>He further explains that it's not the first time when he missed a crucial game for India, especially in SENA countries. Ashwin didn't feature in the final XI in all five Tests on the previous tour to England in 2021/22, having last played in the UK during the maiden WTC Final against New Zealand in Southampton, where he returned with figures of four for 45 across two innings.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-players-to-wear-black-armbands-observe-silence-in-honour-of-nottingham-attack-victims-605013">Ashes 2023: Players to wear black armbands, observe silence in honour of Nottingham attack victims</a></p>

<p>"For me, it's not a setback," Ashwin told the Indian Express and Hindu. "It's just a stumbling block, I'll move on because I have gone through that. When somebody knocks you down for the first time, you have a knee-jerk reaction. I think you should be knocked down once in a while along your life so that you are used to it and will know how to bounce back. That's what life is. Whether you are at your peak or not, it is still a setback. The fact that you need to learn how to deal with it is very important," the veteran spinner added.</p>

<h2>'I'd have loved to play...'</h2>

<p>Ashwin added he would have loved to play because he contributed towards helping India reach this position. Adding since the past four-five years, his overseas bowling improved by heaps and bounds as he managed to win games for his country.</p>

<p>"I would have loved to play because I have played a part in us getting there. Even in the last final, I got four wickets and bowled really well. Ever since 2018-19, my bowling overseas has been fantastic, and I have managed to win games for the team. I am looking at it as a captain or coach, and I'm just talking in hindsight, in their defence."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"So the last time when we were in England, it was 2-2 with a drawn Test, and they would have felt four pacers and one spinner is the combination in England. That is what they might have thought going into the final. The problem is for a spinner to come into play, it must be the fourth innings. The fourth innings is a very crucial facet, and for us to be able to put that amount of runs so the spinner can come into play, it's completely a mindset thing," Ashwin added.</p>

<p>While he revealed knowing about team management's final decision on the playing XI against Australia, Ashwin admitted being more chill about his things at a bigger front than he used to be.</p>

<p>"I'm a lot more chilled than I used to be. A lot more relaxed in my life than I ever have been. Sitting here today, I realise how much of a toll it had taken on me mentally to the point where I was traumatised. But I am very glad to have come through that and discovered a new me," Ashwin said.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Ravi Ashwin, the number one ranked bowler in Tests, didn't make it to the final XI against Australia in the WTC Final, and it's fair to say it raised a few eyebrows.

Ravi Ashwin, the number one ranked bowler in Tests, didn't make it to the final XI against Australia in the WTC Final, and it's fair to say it raised a few eyebrows. As India lost its second straight WTC Final, this time by 209 runs, Ashwin's surprise exclusion triggered a debate among fans on social media over BCCI's move to play four seamers and Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spinner. India's most successful off-spinner in this format, Ashwin, opened up on his exclusion saga, revealing he knew about this decision two days before the start of the WTC Final. In a conversation with the Indian Express and the Hindu, the veteran bowler admitted taking the development as a stumbling block, not a setback. He further explains that it's not the first time when he missed a crucial game for India, especially in SENA countries. Ashwin didn't feature in the final XI in all five Tests on the previous tour to England in 2021/22, having last played in the UK during the maiden WTC Final against New Zealand in Southampton, where he returned with figures of four for 45 across two innings. ALSO READ: Ashes 2023: Players to wear black armbands, observe silence in honour of Nottingham attack victims "For me, it's not a setback," Ashwin told the Indian Express and Hindu. "It's just a stumbling block, I'll move on because I have gone through that. When somebody knocks you down for the first time, you have a knee-jerk reaction. I think you should be knocked down once in a while along your life so that you are used to it and will know how to bounce back. That's what life is. Whether you are at your peak or not, it is still a setback. The fact that you need to learn how to deal with it is very important," the veteran spinner added. 'I'd have loved to play...' Ashwin added he would have loved to play because he contributed towards helping India reach this position. Adding since the past four-five years, his overseas bowling improved by heaps and bounds as he managed to win games for his country. "I would have loved to play because I have played a part in us getting there. Even in the last final, I got four wickets and bowled really well. Ever since 2018-19, my bowling overseas has been fantastic, and I have managed to win games for the team. I am looking at it as a captain or coach, and I'm just talking in hindsight, in their defence." "So the last time when we were in England, it was 2-2 with a drawn Test, and they would have felt four pacers and one spinner is the combination in England. That is what they might have thought going into the final. The problem is for a spinner to come into play, it must be the fourth innings. The fourth innings is a very crucial facet, and for us to be able to put that amount of runs so the spinner can come into play, it's completely a mindset thing," Ashwin added. While he revealed knowing about team management's final decision on the playing XI against Australia, Ashwin admitted being more chill about his things at a bigger front than he used to be. "I'm a lot more chilled than I used to be. A lot more relaxed in my life than I ever have been. Sitting here today, I realise how much of a toll it had taken on me mentally to the point where I was traumatised. But I am very glad to have come through that and discovered a new me," Ashwin said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'It's not a setback, I will move on...': Ravi Ashwin breaks silence on WTC Final omission saga

<p>India's Ravi Ashwin is back to playing on-field cricket after making headlines lately for not getting a chance to appear in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the second straight time. Two days after the conclusion of India's one-off clash against Australia at the Oval in London, Ashwin returned to play in the seventh edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).</p>

<p>In a bizarre or rather a first-of-its-kind incident, Ashwin reviewed an already reviewed call during the clash between Dindigul Dragons vs Ba11sy Trichy in Coimbatore on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-moeen-ali-stuart-broad-picked-for-edgbaston-opener-anderson-robinson-also-return-to-face-aussies-604487">Ashes: Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad picked for Edgbaston opener; Anderson, Robinson also return to face Aussies</a></p>

<p>During the 13th over of Trichy's innings, batter R Rajkumar was adjudged out for a caught behind from umpire K Srinivasan off Ashwin's delivery. Upon getting out, he straight away asked for a review. S Nishaanth - the TV umpire, overturned the decision after replays suggested the ball didn't touch any part of the bat as there was a clear gap. When checked for the sound, it showed the bat had touched the ground.</p>

<p>Unhappy with the decision, Ashwin - in a rare and bizarre incident, had a brief chat with the on-field umpires and decided to review the 'already reviewed call'. The third umpire, again examined the decision and stood with his original call of not out in the end.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This decision didn't impact the result of the match, as Dindigul won by six wickets.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Uno Reverse card in real life! Ashwin reviews a review 🤐<br />
.<br />
.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNPLonFanCode?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TNPLonFanCode</a> <a href="https://t.co/CkC8FOxKd9">pic.twitter.com/CkC8FOxKd9</a></p>
— FanCode (@FanCode) <a href="https://twitter.com/FanCode/status/1669002311711215617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, known to speak his heart out, Ashwin, after the match, expressed his displeasure over the same. He said,</p>

<p>"Looking at the big screen, I felt [it was out]," Ashwin said at the post-match presentation. "DRS is a new rule in this competition. The spike [on UltraEdge] generally comes ahead of the bat, even if there is an edge. And to overturn the on-field call, there has to be conclusive evidence. That they overturned it, I was slightly not happy. So, I reviewed it, hoping they [umpires] might look at it from a different angle."</p>

<h2>'Jetlagged' Ashwin shines for Dindigul Dragons</h2>

<p>Having landed in India on the eve of this match, Ashwin admitted he felt jetlagged. Though he returned with impressive figures of two for 26 in his quota of four overs, Ashwin added he did some stretching earlier but felt his body got stiff as the game progressed.</p>

<p>"I'm feeling jetlagged," Ashwin said. "I did some stretching. Initially, while starting the game, the first ten overs were okay. As the game progressed, the body became stiff. The jetlag is there, but I wanted to play with the boys."</p>

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India's Ravi Ashwin is back to playing on-field cricket after making headlines lately for not getting a chance to appear in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the second straight time.

India's Ravi Ashwin is back to playing on-field cricket after making headlines lately for not getting a chance to appear in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the second straight time. Two days after the conclusion of India's one-off clash against Australia at the Oval in London, Ashwin returned to play in the seventh edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). In a bizarre or rather a first-of-its-kind incident, Ashwin reviewed an already reviewed call during the clash between Dindigul Dragons vs Ba11sy Trichy in Coimbatore on Wednesday. ALSO READ: Ashes: Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad picked for Edgbaston opener; Anderson, Robinson also return to face Aussies During the 13th over of Trichy's innings, batter R Rajkumar was adjudged out for a caught behind from umpire K Srinivasan off Ashwin's delivery. Upon getting out, he straight away asked for a review. S Nishaanth - the TV umpire, overturned the decision after replays suggested the ball didn't touch any part of the bat as there was a clear gap. When checked for the sound, it showed the bat had touched the ground. Unhappy with the decision, Ashwin - in a rare and bizarre incident, had a brief chat with the on-field umpires and decided to review the 'already reviewed call'. The third umpire, again examined the decision and stood with his original call of not out in the end. This decision didn't impact the result of the match, as Dindigul won by six wickets. YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO HERE - Uno Reverse card in real life! Ashwin reviews a review 🤐 . .#TNPLonFanCode pic.twitter.com/CkC8FOxKd9 — FanCode (@FanCode) June 14, 2023 × Meanwhile, known to speak his heart out, Ashwin, after the match, expressed his displeasure over the same. He said, "Looking at the big screen, I felt [it was out]," Ashwin said at the post-match presentation. "DRS is a new rule in this competition. The spike [on UltraEdge] generally comes ahead of the bat, even if there is an edge. And to overturn the on-field call, there has to be conclusive evidence. That they overturned it, I was slightly not happy. So, I reviewed it, hoping they [umpires] might look at it from a different angle." 'Jetlagged' Ashwin shines for Dindigul Dragons Having landed in India on the eve of this match, Ashwin admitted he felt jetlagged. Though he returned with impressive figures of two for 26 in his quota of four overs, Ashwin added he did some stretching earlier but felt his body got stiff as the game progressed. "I'm feeling jetlagged," Ashwin said. "I did some stretching. Initially, while starting the game, the first ten overs were okay. As the game progressed, the body became stiff. The jetlag is there, but I wanted to play with the boys." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH - Ravi Ashwin reviews a 'review call' in bizarre incident in TNPL 2023

<p>Team India failed to win a World Test Championship (WTC) title for the second time earlier this month. Rohit Sharma’s men had to face a crushing 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia. Chasing a mammoth total of 444, Team India were bowled out for a lowly 234. India’s shambolic performance, quite understandably, baffled many experts and former cricketers. Legendary West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts has now shared his views on India’s WTC final defeat. Talking about the summit clash, Roberts claimed that India underestimated other teams.</p>

<h2><strong>What Andy Roberts said</strong></h2>

<p>“There is this arrogance which has crept into Indian cricket and through this, India have underestimated the rest of the world. India must decide what their focus is—Test cricket or limited overs cricket. T20 cricket will run its course. There is no contest between bat and ball there," Roberts was quoted as saying to Mid-Day.</p>

<p>"I expected India to show their batting strength. I saw no bright spot in the final although Ajinkya Rahane fought hard; got hit on his hand,” Andy Roberts added.</p>

<h2><strong>WTC Final</strong></h2>

<p>Australia batter Travis Head played a fine knock of 163 to guide his side to a solid total of 469. Ajinkya Rahane, who made a comeback in the team, played a gritty knock of 89 in the first innings. The 35-year-old emerged as India’s highest scorer in the game. But India’s top order could not live up to expectations. As a result Rohit Sharma’s men were bowled out for 296 in the first innings. Rahane displayed another courageous show in the second innings after pulling off a praiseworthy knock of 46.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Australia spinner Nathan Lyon picked up four wickets in the second innings to earn an emphatic win for his side.</p>

<p>India will now be aiming to kick off the new WTC cycle with renewed vigour when they take the field against West Indies. India will be involved in a two-match Test series against their Caribbean opponents. The first match of the series is scheduled to start from July 17. Following the conclusion of the Tests, the two sides will take part in white-ball cricket.</p>


Team India failed to win a World Test Championship (WTC) title for the second time earlier this month. Rohit Sharma’s men had to face a crushing 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia.

Team India failed to win a World Test Championship (WTC) title for the second time earlier this month. Rohit Sharma’s men had to face a crushing 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia. Chasing a mammoth total of 444, Team India were bowled out for a lowly 234. India’s shambolic performance, quite understandably, baffled many experts and former cricketers. Legendary West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts has now shared his views on India’s WTC final defeat. Talking about the summit clash, Roberts claimed that India underestimated other teams. What Andy Roberts said “There is this arrogance which has crept into Indian cricket and through this, India have underestimated the rest of the world. India must decide what their focus is—Test cricket or limited overs cricket. T20 cricket will run its course. There is no contest between bat and ball there," Roberts was quoted as saying to Mid-Day. "I expected India to show their batting strength. I saw no bright spot in the final although Ajinkya Rahane fought hard; got hit on his hand,” Andy Roberts added. WTC Final Australia batter Travis Head played a fine knock of 163 to guide his side to a solid total of 469. Ajinkya Rahane, who made a comeback in the team, played a gritty knock of 89 in the first innings. The 35-year-old emerged as India’s highest scorer in the game. But India’s top order could not live up to expectations. As a result Rohit Sharma’s men were bowled out for 296 in the first innings. Rahane displayed another courageous show in the second innings after pulling off a praiseworthy knock of 46. Australia spinner Nathan Lyon picked up four wickets in the second innings to earn an emphatic win for his side. India will now be aiming to kick off the new WTC cycle with renewed vigour when they take the field against West Indies. India will be involved in a two-match Test series against their Caribbean opponents. The first match of the series is scheduled to start from July 17. Following the conclusion of the Tests, the two sides will take part in white-ball cricket.

Legendary West Indies pacer slams Team India for poor show in WTC final

<p>The World Test Championship (WTC) final turned out to be quite a dismal affair for Team India. While Rohit Sharma’s men had to concede a 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia, it was Virat Kohli who probably had to face the maximum criticism for playing a poor shot in the second innings. Playing a delivery outside the off stump, the India batter fell just one short of his half-century. Kohli’s questionable shot selection infuriated fans and many former cricketers as well. Following the conclusion of the game, the former India skipper has shared multiple cryptic posts on social media. Talking about some ‘change,’ he has now come up with one of Alan Watts’ quotes on Instagram stories.</p>

<h2><strong>Virat Kohli's Post&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance," Virat Kohli posted today.<img alt="Virat Kohli " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6377c4bb-2a35-4682-ac72-8ec363aab4ea" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-06-15%20180352.png" />Previously, Virat Kohli had shared a quote by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu’s quote just after India’s WTC final defeat. “Silence is a source of great strength," he wrote.</p>

<h2><strong>Kohli faces criticism</strong></h2>

<p>Sunil Gavaskar was one of many who felt that for Virat Kohli it was not wise to play such a shot in the WTC final. “It was a pretty ordinary shot. Outside the off stump. He was leaving till then. Maybe he was conscious that he needed one run to reach his half century. It happens when you are nearing a milestone. It happened to Jadeja. He played a delivery he shouldn't have when he was (on) 48. Happened to Ajinkya Rahane who was on 46. He hadn't played that shot all this while. Suddenly, why do you play that shot? Because you are aware of that landmark,” the legendary India batter was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.</p>

<h2><strong>India's WTC defeat</strong></h2>

<p>In the first innings of the WTC summit clash, Virat Kohli could only manage to score 14 runs. Team India were bundled out for 296. &nbsp;The Pat Cummins-led declared their second innings at 270/8 to set up a mammoth target of 444 for India. Ajinkya Rahane, who made his comeback in the format, produced a gritty knock of 46 in the second innings. His efforts went in vain as India folded for 234.</p>


The World Test Championship (WTC) final turned out to be quite a dismal affair for Team India. While Rohit Sharma’s men had to concede a 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia, it was Virat Kohli who probably had to face the maximum criticism for playing a poor shot in the second innings.

The World Test Championship (WTC) final turned out to be quite a dismal affair for Team India. While Rohit Sharma’s men had to concede a 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia, it was Virat Kohli who probably had to face the maximum criticism for playing a poor shot in the second innings. Playing a delivery outside the off stump, the India batter fell just one short of his half-century. Kohli’s questionable shot selection infuriated fans and many former cricketers as well. Following the conclusion of the game, the former India skipper has shared multiple cryptic posts on social media. Talking about some ‘change,’ he has now come up with one of Alan Watts’ quotes on Instagram stories. Virat Kohli's Post “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance," Virat Kohli posted today.Previously, Virat Kohli had shared a quote by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu’s quote just after India’s WTC final defeat. “Silence is a source of great strength," he wrote. Kohli faces criticism Sunil Gavaskar was one of many who felt that for Virat Kohli it was not wise to play such a shot in the WTC final. “It was a pretty ordinary shot. Outside the off stump. He was leaving till then. Maybe he was conscious that he needed one run to reach his half century. It happens when you are nearing a milestone. It happened to Jadeja. He played a delivery he shouldn't have when he was (on) 48. Happened to Ajinkya Rahane who was on 46. He hadn't played that shot all this while. Suddenly, why do you play that shot? Because you are aware of that landmark,” the legendary India batter was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. India's WTC defeat In the first innings of the WTC summit clash, Virat Kohli could only manage to score 14 runs. Team India were bundled out for 296. The Pat Cummins-led declared their second innings at 270/8 to set up a mammoth target of 444 for India. Ajinkya Rahane, who made his comeback in the format, produced a gritty knock of 46 in the second innings. His efforts went in vain as India folded for 234.

Virat Kohli talks about 'change' in his cryptic Instagram post

<p>The cricket experts and fans went up in arms as soon as skipper Rohit Sharma announced that off-spinner Ravi Ashwin was not in the playing XI of World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia. India went on to lose the game and dropping Ashwin became a huge topic of discussion, with even Sachin Tendulkar questioning his exclusion.</p>

<p>The off-spinner, after India lost its second consecutive WTC Final, has reacted on the loss and thanked the entire support staff for standing by him like a rock of support.</p>

<p>“Congratulations Australia on winning this #WTCFinal and closing out this cycle of test cricket. It is disappointing to end up on the wrong side of things, nevertheless it was a great effort over the last 2 years or so to get here in the first place. Amidst all the chaos and scathing assessments, i feel it’s very important to acknowledge all my team mates who played in this cycle and most importantly the coaching and support staffs who have held on like a rock of support,” Ashwin tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations Australia on winning this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTCFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTCFinal</a> and closing out this cycle of test cricket. It is disappointing to end up on the wrong side of things, nevertheless it was a great effort over the last 2 years or so to get here in the first place.<br />
<br />
Amidst all the chaos and…</p>
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashwinravi99/status/1667959712728469504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Why was Ashwin dropped?</strong></h2>

<p>The conditions at the Oval, which were overcast on day 1 at the toss, may have prompted India to play only one spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. India's batting being a bit thin because of injury to Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, in part, may have prompted India to go with Jadeja to fill the hole at lower-middle order.</p>

<p>Rohit, nonetheless, said that it was hard to drop Ashwin, who currently is the number one bowler in ICC Test rankings.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-whats-stopping-india-from-winning-icc-trophies-lack-of-temperament-poor-luck-or-something-else-603620">What's stopping India from winning ICC trophies? Lack of temperament, poor luck or something else?</a></p>

<h2><strong>How much did Ashwin's exclusion affect India?</strong></h2>

<p>Being an off-spinner, Ashwin is a force against left-hand batsmen and Australia had four of them in their top seven in David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Alex Carey. Tendulkar, in his tweet, had said that Ashwin is equally good against both types of batsmen, and the offie had, in past, dismissed right-hander Steve Smith multiple times.</p>

<p>Nonetheless, David Warner scored a brisk 43 and Travis Head (163) scored a century in the first innings while Alex Carey scored a crucial 66 not out in the second innings, all of whom would have been more vulnerable against Ashwin had he been in the playing XI.</p>

<p>India eventually conceded 469 runs in the first innings and were set target of 444 runs after scoring just 296 in their first innings and lost the match by 209 runs.&nbsp;</p>

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The cricket experts and fans went up in arms as soon as skipper Rohit Sharma announced that off-spinner Ravi Ashwin was not in the playing XI of World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia.

The cricket experts and fans went up in arms as soon as skipper Rohit Sharma announced that off-spinner Ravi Ashwin was not in the playing XI of World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia. India went on to lose the game and dropping Ashwin became a huge topic of discussion, with even Sachin Tendulkar questioning his exclusion. The off-spinner, after India lost its second consecutive WTC Final, has reacted on the loss and thanked the entire support staff for standing by him like a rock of support. “Congratulations Australia on winning this #WTCFinal and closing out this cycle of test cricket. It is disappointing to end up on the wrong side of things, nevertheless it was a great effort over the last 2 years or so to get here in the first place. Amidst all the chaos and scathing assessments, i feel it’s very important to acknowledge all my team mates who played in this cycle and most importantly the coaching and support staffs who have held on like a rock of support,” Ashwin tweeted. Congratulations Australia on winning this #WTCFinal and closing out this cycle of test cricket. It is disappointing to end up on the wrong side of things, nevertheless it was a great effort over the last 2 years or so to get here in the first place. Amidst all the chaos and… — Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) June 11, 2023 × Why was Ashwin dropped? The conditions at the Oval, which were overcast on day 1 at the toss, may have prompted India to play only one spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. India's batting being a bit thin because of injury to Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, in part, may have prompted India to go with Jadeja to fill the hole at lower-middle order. Rohit, nonetheless, said that it was hard to drop Ashwin, who currently is the number one bowler in ICC Test rankings. Also Read: What's stopping India from winning ICC trophies? Lack of temperament, poor luck or something else? How much did Ashwin's exclusion affect India? Being an off-spinner, Ashwin is a force against left-hand batsmen and Australia had four of them in their top seven in David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Alex Carey. Tendulkar, in his tweet, had said that Ashwin is equally good against both types of batsmen, and the offie had, in past, dismissed right-hander Steve Smith multiple times. Nonetheless, David Warner scored a brisk 43 and Travis Head (163) scored a century in the first innings while Alex Carey scored a crucial 66 not out in the second innings, all of whom would have been more vulnerable against Ashwin had he been in the playing XI. India eventually conceded 469 runs in the first innings and were set target of 444 runs after scoring just 296 in their first innings and lost the match by 209 runs. 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. 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.

Ravi Ashwin reacts at India's loss in WTC Final after being dropped from playing XI

<p>India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been out of competitive cricket after being injured in a car crash in December last year. The accident took place near Pant's home town - Roorkee, Uttarakhand. Pant suffered two cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his right knee and several other injuries. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy (NCA). The southpaw has now shared an update on his fitness. &nbsp;In a video dropped by Pant on Instagram, the 25-year-old can be seen climbing the stairs without the support of a stick.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Not bad yaar Rishabh. Simple things can be difficult sometimes,” the India cricketer wrote on Instagram. In a video shared on his Instagram Stories, Pant can be seen doing some stretching. The post soon spread like wildfire as social media users wished Pant a speedy recovery.</p>

<h2><strong>Sports Fraternity Gives Shout Out&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Indian women’s team cricketer Harleen Deol commented, “Well done boy, keep your bhangra performance ready Rishabh Pant.” India cricketer Mandeep Singh wrote, “Baba Mehar kare. Indian Premier League (IPL) side Delhi Capitals also motivated their skipper by commenting, “Keep going Rishabh.” Indian pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti branded Rishabh Pant as a “Champion.”</p>

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<h2><strong>Rishabh Pant's Recovery Process</strong></h2>

<p>Following the harrowing accident, Rishabh Pant had to undergo surgery in January. He had surgery on his medial collateral ligament (MCL). Pant made his first public appearance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2023 match against Gujarat Titans in April.</p>

<p>Rishabh Pant was last seen in action against Bangladesh during the second Test in December last year. He played a fine knock of 93 in the first innings of that fixture. His brilliance with the bat helped India win the game. Team India had whitewashed Bangladesh 2-0 in that Test series.</p>

<p>Rishabh Pant’s absence was very much felt in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in which Rohit Sharma’s men had to face a 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia.</p>

<h2><strong>Rishabh Pant's Comeback</strong></h2>

<p>There is still no official word on Rishabh Pant’s comeback. According to multiple media reports, the India wicketkeeper could very well miss the Asia Cup and 50-over World Cup scheduled to be played later this year.</p>


India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been out of competitive cricket after being injured in a car crash in December last year. The accident took place near Pant's home town - Roorkee, Uttarakhand.

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been out of competitive cricket after being injured in a car crash in December last year. The accident took place near Pant's home town - Roorkee, Uttarakhand. Pant suffered two cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his right knee and several other injuries. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy (NCA). The southpaw has now shared an update on his fitness. In a video dropped by Pant on Instagram, the 25-year-old can be seen climbing the stairs without the support of a stick. “Not bad yaar Rishabh. Simple things can be difficult sometimes,” the India cricketer wrote on Instagram. In a video shared on his Instagram Stories, Pant can be seen doing some stretching. The post soon spread like wildfire as social media users wished Pant a speedy recovery. Sports Fraternity Gives Shout Out Indian women’s team cricketer Harleen Deol commented, “Well done boy, keep your bhangra performance ready Rishabh Pant.” India cricketer Mandeep Singh wrote, “Baba Mehar kare. Indian Premier League (IPL) side Delhi Capitals also motivated their skipper by commenting, “Keep going Rishabh.” Indian pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti branded Rishabh Pant as a “Champion.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rishabh Pant (@rishabpant) × Rishabh Pant's Recovery Process Following the harrowing accident, Rishabh Pant had to undergo surgery in January. He had surgery on his medial collateral ligament (MCL). Pant made his first public appearance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2023 match against Gujarat Titans in April. Rishabh Pant was last seen in action against Bangladesh during the second Test in December last year. He played a fine knock of 93 in the first innings of that fixture. His brilliance with the bat helped India win the game. Team India had whitewashed Bangladesh 2-0 in that Test series. Rishabh Pant’s absence was very much felt in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in which Rohit Sharma’s men had to face a 209-run defeat at the hands of Australia. Rishabh Pant's Comeback There is still no official word on Rishabh Pant’s comeback. According to multiple media reports, the India wicketkeeper could very well miss the Asia Cup and 50-over World Cup scheduled to be played later this year.

'Not bad yaar:' Rishabh Pant provides major update on his fitness

<p>Manchester City completed a historic treble after winning their maiden Champions League trophy this season. Upon their return to England, the victorious Manchester City players were spotted taking part in a euphoric celebration. India opening batter Shubman Gill was one of those who was seen along with Manchester City players. In an Instagram post shared by Gill, the cricket sensation can be seen sharing the frame with Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Erling Haaland. Gill donned a cream-colored sweatshirt while posing with the two Manchester City players. “Congratulations Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland for winning the treble,” Gill wrote in the caption.</p>

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<p>The post went viral in no time garnering more than 1.7 million likes on Instagram. While social media users were in awe of the global sports icons, World Cup-winning India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh came up with a hilarious response. Taking a cheeky dig at Shubman Gill, Yuvraj replied, “I thought you were a PSG fan?”</p>

<p>Another India batter Mayank Agarwal hilariously replied to Shubman Gill’s post by commenting, “Bro har roz he team change ho jandi aa teri (Bro! Everyday your team gets changed).”</p>

<p>Showering immense praise on Shubman Gill, a user commented, “Mbappe of world cricket.”</p>

<p>After exhibiting a brilliant performance in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Shubman Gill took part in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at the Kennington Oval in London. But Gill failed to carry forward his sensational form in the WTC summit clash. The 23-year-old could only manage to score 31 runs in the game against Australia. Team India had to suffer a 209-run defeat at the hands of the Pat Cummins-led side. Apart from his poor performance on the field, Gill had to pay a hefty fine for his controversial behaviour. Gill was fined 15 percent of his match for expressing his displeasure after being dismissed in the second innings.</p>

<p>Manchester City, on the other hand, claimed their maiden Champions League title after defeating Inter Milan in the final by one goal to nil. Spanish midfielder Rodri scored the solitary goal of the fixture to guide the English side to a special Champions League triumph. Pep Guardiola’s men became just the second English team, after Manchester United, to complete a continental treble.</p>


Manchester City completed a historic treble after winning their maiden Champions League trophy this season. Upon their return to England, the victorious Manchester City players were spotted taking part in a euphoric celebration.

Manchester City completed a historic treble after winning their maiden Champions League trophy this season. Upon their return to England, the victorious Manchester City players were spotted taking part in a euphoric celebration. India opening batter Shubman Gill was one of those who was seen along with Manchester City players. In an Instagram post shared by Gill, the cricket sensation can be seen sharing the frame with Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Erling Haaland. Gill donned a cream-colored sweatshirt while posing with the two Manchester City players. “Congratulations Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland for winning the treble,” Gill wrote in the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ꮪhubman Gill (@shubmangill) × The post went viral in no time garnering more than 1.7 million likes on Instagram. While social media users were in awe of the global sports icons, World Cup-winning India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh came up with a hilarious response. Taking a cheeky dig at Shubman Gill, Yuvraj replied, “I thought you were a PSG fan?” Another India batter Mayank Agarwal hilariously replied to Shubman Gill’s post by commenting, “Bro har roz he team change ho jandi aa teri (Bro! Everyday your team gets changed).” Showering immense praise on Shubman Gill, a user commented, “Mbappe of world cricket.” After exhibiting a brilliant performance in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Shubman Gill took part in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at the Kennington Oval in London. But Gill failed to carry forward his sensational form in the WTC summit clash. The 23-year-old could only manage to score 31 runs in the game against Australia. Team India had to suffer a 209-run defeat at the hands of the Pat Cummins-led side. Apart from his poor performance on the field, Gill had to pay a hefty fine for his controversial behaviour. Gill was fined 15 percent of his match for expressing his displeasure after being dismissed in the second innings. Manchester City, on the other hand, claimed their maiden Champions League title after defeating Inter Milan in the final by one goal to nil. Spanish midfielder Rodri scored the solitary goal of the fixture to guide the English side to a special Champions League triumph. Pep Guardiola’s men became just the second English team, after Manchester United, to complete a continental treble.

Shubman Gill's post with Manchester City footballers goes viral: See pics

<p>Is it the right time to address the elephant in the room? Or shall we wait for another lost opportunity at an ICC tournament to start talking about it?</p>

<p>Since last winning an ICC trophy in 2013 - at a time when Facebook had seen its peak, Twitter was emerging to become a social media giant, and Instagram was probably in the earlier stages of being launched, the Indian team failed to bring home any major accolades.</p>

<p>So, where is the problem? It’s not that they are missing&nbsp;world-class players or lack&nbsp;infrastructure, or don't have a setup where youngsters thrive to succeed. Is it luck? Could be, but not entirely! So where does one find an answer to this?</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-dont-say-this-in-ipl-gavaskar-slams-rohit-sharma-for-his-latest-remarks-on-wtc-final-format-603529">'You don't say this in IPL...': Gavaskar slams Rohit Sharma for his latest remarks on WTC Final format</a></p>

<p>Maybe it's in front of everyone's eyes, and the Indian cricket fans are happy living in denial. Can happen! The big question here arises what’s stopping the Indian Men’s Team from winning an ICC trophy?</p>

<p>Having lately lost the second straight World Test Championship (WTC) Final, this time to Australia by a massive margin of 209 runs, the Indian players, let alone the fans, looked disappointed with the result and seemed eager to find solutions. With India all set to host the 50-over World Cup later this year, they would want to tick most of the boxes to avoid suffering the same fate as they did during the previous editions.</p>

<h2>Is the way how Test Cricket unfolds in India a problem?</h2>

<p>Maybe no one’s ready for this discussion.</p>

<p>How does wrapping up Test matches in India inside two, three or on the least doctored track, four days, help players across all departments, other than spinners, in any way? Honestly, they are not!</p>

<p>Providing tracks that turn from day one will neither help the batters gain any momentum nor will it see fast bowlers succeeding in Tests in this part of the world. Leave aside the touring sides, it’s a rarity to see more than two Indian pacers taking the field in any Test in these conditions – even considering the venues where they would get some assistance from the pitch.</p>

<p>Now, with spinners taking control of the game from the ball, thus dictating how things will pan out throughout the series, it doesn’t really help the team in the longer run.</p>

<p>India might, and well, have been doing this for the past ten years, to win all those Tests at home, and some even by daunting margins. But the truth is that&nbsp;such tactics are not helping other departments to get better in any way.</p>

<p>It’s understandable, for obvious reasons, why host teams tend to use the home advantage in their favour – which is to win matches and gain a lead on the points table of the WTC Cycle.&nbsp;But what’s the use of that if the same bunch of players were to suffer the old, monotonous fate of falling shy of winning the trophy outside of their home conditions?</p>

<p>India’s past two results in the WTC Finals are prime examples of that.</p>

<p>With the batters failing to score in home conditions, and for countless reasons, not being able to go outside of their bubble and train or play in different domestic leagues, in the County Championships in the UK, for example, their inability to adapt to the new conditions get exposed on the D-day.</p>

<h2>Is high-headedness killing, or has&nbsp;already killed Indian cricket?</h2>

<p>India doesn't have big-name players in the country, India has demigods - be it the great Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni and so on. With the amount of love they get from the fans, they are no less than supreme powers on the field in their head, and it has had its adverse effects.</p>

<p>Though a few of the big names in the India line-up have contributed immensely throughout their career, their stubbornness not to learn from their mistakes has shockingly cost India World Cups at a stretch. What’s worse, they keep getting away every single time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-tour-of-west-indies-2023-cwi-announce-full-schedule-jaiswal-mukesh-kumar-in-line-for-test-call-ups-603590">India’s tour of West Indies 2023: CWI announce full schedule, Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar in line for Test call-ups</a></p>

<p>The least discussed or untouched, like some taboo, in this country, the egos are now starting to take centre stage. Sure, it’s all part of the game and must have been around for hundreds of years now, but this thing has had its impact on the team environment and subsequently on the results.</p>

<h2>Can India revive?</h2>

<p>They must before it gets too late.</p>

<p>In a few months, the World Cup starts, and this is India’s best chance at glory, having last won in Asia 12 years back.</p>

<p>Sticking around as a team, working on the weaknesses, and deliberately putting in hard yards to prepare for the worst situation can only help India get ready for the biggest winter extravaganza this year.</p>

<p>Before the World Cup gets underway, India will get involved in another multi-team tournament - the Asia Cup 2023, and winning that would boost the side's chances of ending the trophy drought in the home WC.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Is it the right time to address the elephant in the room? Or shall we wait for another lost opportunity at an ICC tournament to start talking about it? Since last winning an ICC trophy in 2013 - at a time when Facebook had seen its peak, Twitter was emerging to become a social media giant, and Instagram was probably in the earlier stages of being launched, the Indian team failed to bring home any major accolades.

Is it the right time to address the elephant in the room? Or shall we wait for another lost opportunity at an ICC tournament to start talking about it? Since last winning an ICC trophy in 2013 - at a time when Facebook had seen its peak, Twitter was emerging to become a social media giant, and Instagram was probably in the earlier stages of being launched, the Indian team failed to bring home any major accolades. So, where is the problem? It’s not that they are missing world-class players or lack infrastructure, or don't have a setup where youngsters thrive to succeed. Is it luck? Could be, but not entirely! So where does one find an answer to this? ALSO READ: 'You don't say this in IPL...': Gavaskar slams Rohit Sharma for his latest remarks on WTC Final format Maybe it's in front of everyone's eyes, and the Indian cricket fans are happy living in denial. Can happen! The big question here arises what’s stopping the Indian Men’s Team from winning an ICC trophy? Having lately lost the second straight World Test Championship (WTC) Final, this time to Australia by a massive margin of 209 runs, the Indian players, let alone the fans, looked disappointed with the result and seemed eager to find solutions. With India all set to host the 50-over World Cup later this year, they would want to tick most of the boxes to avoid suffering the same fate as they did during the previous editions. Is the way how Test Cricket unfolds in India a problem? Maybe no one’s ready for this discussion. How does wrapping up Test matches in India inside two, three or on the least doctored track, four days, help players across all departments, other than spinners, in any way? Honestly, they are not! Providing tracks that turn from day one will neither help the batters gain any momentum nor will it see fast bowlers succeeding in Tests in this part of the world. Leave aside the touring sides, it’s a rarity to see more than two Indian pacers taking the field in any Test in these conditions – even considering the venues where they would get some assistance from the pitch. Now, with spinners taking control of the game from the ball, thus dictating how things will pan out throughout the series, it doesn’t really help the team in the longer run. India might, and well, have been doing this for the past ten years, to win all those Tests at home, and some even by daunting margins. But the truth is that such tactics are not helping other departments to get better in any way. It’s understandable, for obvious reasons, why host teams tend to use the home advantage in their favour – which is to win matches and gain a lead on the points table of the WTC Cycle. But what’s the use of that if the same bunch of players were to suffer the old, monotonous fate of falling shy of winning the trophy outside of their home conditions? India’s past two results in the WTC Finals are prime examples of that. With the batters failing to score in home conditions, and for countless reasons, not being able to go outside of their bubble and train or play in different domestic leagues, in the County Championships in the UK, for example, their inability to adapt to the new conditions get exposed on the D-day. Is high-headedness killing, or has already killed Indian cricket? India doesn't have big-name players in the country, India has demigods - be it the great Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni and so on. With the amount of love they get from the fans, they are no less than supreme powers on the field in their head, and it has had its adverse effects. Though a few of the big names in the India line-up have contributed immensely throughout their career, their stubbornness not to learn from their mistakes has shockingly cost India World Cups at a stretch. What’s worse, they keep getting away every single time. ALSO READ: India’s tour of West Indies 2023: CWI announce full schedule, Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar in line for Test call-ups The least discussed or untouched, like some taboo, in this country, the egos are now starting to take centre stage. Sure, it’s all part of the game and must have been around for hundreds of years now, but this thing has had its impact on the team environment and subsequently on the results. Can India revive? They must before it gets too late. In a few months, the World Cup starts, and this is India’s best chance at glory, having last won in Asia 12 years back. Sticking around as a team, working on the weaknesses, and deliberately putting in hard yards to prepare for the worst situation can only help India get ready for the biggest winter extravaganza this year. Before the World Cup gets underway, India will get involved in another multi-team tournament - the Asia Cup 2023, and winning that would boost the side's chances of ending the trophy drought in the home WC. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXPLAINED - What's stopping India from winning ICC trophies? Lack of temperament, poor luck or something else?

<p>Former India coach Ravi Shastri, in response to India skipper Rohit Sharma's demand of 20-25 days before an event like WTC Final, has asked him to let go of the IPL. Notably, there was only a week's gap between the IPL 2023 final and the WTC Final this year which India lost to Australia by 209 runs. This was also India's second consecutive defeat in the marquee event.</p>

<p>"See, that's never going to happen," Shastri opined on Rohit's statement in a chat with Star Sports.</p>

<p>"Let's be realistic here. You're not going to get those 20 days. And if that's the case then you've got to miss IPL," said the former coach. "So, the choice is yours and it's up to the establishment as well. I'm sure the BCCI will review this in the future, if a World Test Championship [final] is going to come after an IPL every time in the month of June, then for that season, if your team qualifies for the final, there should be certain clauses put to franchises."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-ashwin-reacts-at-indias-loss-in-wtc-final-after-being-dropped-from-playing-xi-603725">Ravi Ashwin reacts at India's loss in WTC Final after being dropped from playing XI</a></p>

<p>Rohit, at the post-match presentation after the loss against Australia, had advocated for a bigger window before the WTC Final-like events to give bowlers enough rest and have good time in hand to prepare.</p>

<p>"Yeah, ideally, we would want to have a good time in hand to prepare, give enough rest to the bowlers," he had said. "Sometimes, it can be tough because playing T20 cricket, you completely bowl different lengths, different lines, and a lot of change-ups.</p>

<p>"And then Test cricket, obviously, requires a lot of discipline, hitting that area consistently and challenging the batsmen - but again, you know Shami, Siraj, Umesh they all are experienced, they obviously know how to prepare themselves and get ready for a game like this. But in an ideal scenario, yes, I would prefer it if we have 20-25 days to prepare for a game like this," added the skipper.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Former India coach Ravi Shastri, in response to India skipper Rohit Sharma's demand of 20-25 days before an event like WTC Final, has asked him to let go of the IPL.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri, in response to India skipper Rohit Sharma's demand of 20-25 days before an event like WTC Final, has asked him to let go of the IPL. Notably, there was only a week's gap between the IPL 2023 final and the WTC Final this year which India lost to Australia by 209 runs. This was also India's second consecutive defeat in the marquee event. "See, that's never going to happen," Shastri opined on Rohit's statement in a chat with Star Sports. "Let's be realistic here. You're not going to get those 20 days. And if that's the case then you've got to miss IPL," said the former coach. "So, the choice is yours and it's up to the establishment as well. I'm sure the BCCI will review this in the future, if a World Test Championship [final] is going to come after an IPL every time in the month of June, then for that season, if your team qualifies for the final, there should be certain clauses put to franchises." Also Read: Ravi Ashwin reacts at India's loss in WTC Final after being dropped from playing XI Rohit, at the post-match presentation after the loss against Australia, had advocated for a bigger window before the WTC Final-like events to give bowlers enough rest and have good time in hand to prepare. "Yeah, ideally, we would want to have a good time in hand to prepare, give enough rest to the bowlers," he had said. "Sometimes, it can be tough because playing T20 cricket, you completely bowl different lengths, different lines, and a lot of change-ups. "And then Test cricket, obviously, requires a lot of discipline, hitting that area consistently and challenging the batsmen - but again, you know Shami, Siraj, Umesh they all are experienced, they obviously know how to prepare themselves and get ready for a game like this. But in an ideal scenario, yes, I would prefer it if we have 20-25 days to prepare for a game like this," added the skipper. 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.

'Be realistic...,' says Ravi Shastri on Rohit's demand of 20 days before WTC Final

<p>India batsman Shubman Gill was dismissed in a controversial fashion in the final innings of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final off Australia's Scott Boland. The ball, after Gill edged it, flew towards Cameron Green in slips area where the 6 feet 7 inch player&nbsp;plucked it in a sensational manner.</p>

<p>The decision, however, was referred to the third umpire, and after multiple reviews, the TV umpire gave Gill out. The batsman was clearly not happy with the decision and so was skipper Rohit Sharma who seemed very angry. Have a look at the catch here:</p>

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<p>The ball, first of the eighth&nbsp;over, bounced a bit extra than Gill had anticipated and took the bat's upper edge to fly towards Green. The Aussie, who had taken a blinder in the first innings to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane, did well in the end.</p>

<p>The decision, however, will trigger debate definitely as,&nbsp;to the naked eye,&nbsp;the ball seemed to have touched the ground.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why soft signal wasn't used?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) updated playing conditions, the on-field umpires would now have to consult the TV umpire while taking a decision.</p>

<p>"The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken," the ICC had confirmed while announcing the change in May.</p>

<p>The ongoing WTC Final is the second Test without soft signal with the one-off England vs Ireland Test being the first one.</p>

<h2><strong>WTC Final, Day 4 - Tea</strong></h2>

<p>Gill's dismissal brought in the tea with India at 41/1 while chasing a record total of 444 runs if they were to win the match. Australia, having resumed the day from 123/4, added 147 runs more to their total for the loss of four more wickets and declared on 270/8.</p>

<p>Alex Carey top scored for Australia with 66 not out and Jadeja took three wickets for India in the second innings.</p>

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India batsman Shubman Gill was dismissed in a controversial fashion in the final innings of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final off Australia's Scott Boland.

India batsman Shubman Gill was dismissed in a controversial fashion in the final innings of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final off Australia's Scott Boland. The ball, after Gill edged it, flew towards Cameron Green in slips area where the 6 feet 7 inch player plucked it in a sensational manner. The decision, however, was referred to the third umpire, and after multiple reviews, the TV umpire gave Gill out. The batsman was clearly not happy with the decision and so was skipper Rohit Sharma who seemed very angry. Have a look at the catch here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC (@icc) × The ball, first of the eighth over, bounced a bit extra than Gill had anticipated and took the bat's upper edge to fly towards Green. The Aussie, who had taken a blinder in the first innings to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane, did well in the end. The decision, however, will trigger debate definitely as, to the naked eye, the ball seemed to have touched the ground. Why soft signal wasn't used? According to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) updated playing conditions, the on-field umpires would now have to consult the TV umpire while taking a decision. "The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken," the ICC had confirmed while announcing the change in May. The ongoing WTC Final is the second Test without soft signal with the one-off England vs Ireland Test being the first one. WTC Final, Day 4 - Tea Gill's dismissal brought in the tea with India at 41/1 while chasing a record total of 444 runs if they were to win the match. Australia, having resumed the day from 123/4, added 147 runs more to their total for the loss of four more wickets and declared on 270/8. Alex Carey top scored for Australia with 66 not out and Jadeja took three wickets for India in the second innings. 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: Shubman Gill given out on controversial catch by Cameron Green - WATCH

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<p>Former India legend Sunil Gavaskar has come down hard on the Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his latest remarks on the WTC Final being a one-off decider instead of the more desirable three-match series. On Sunday, for the second straight time, India lost the World Test Championship Final, this time against Australia by 209 runs at the Oval. During the post-match presser, Rohit suggested the WTC Final should be played across the best-of-three format.</p>

<p>“I would like to play the 3-Test match series for the WTC Final. We worked hard, and we fought, but we played just one game. I think a 3-match series would be ideal in the next WTC cycle,” Rohit said after India failed to chase down 444 on the final day of the WTC Final.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/after-claiming-wtc-final-pat-cummins-sets-sight-on-winning-ashes-in-england-first-time-in-over-two-decades-603498">After claiming WTC Final, Pat Cummins sets sight on winning away Ashes for first time in over two decades</a></p>

<p>Unlike a few others who echoed exact words, Gavaskar slammed Rohit saying from day one of the WTC cycles, everyone knows the final will be a one-off Test, so on that note, every team must prepare them for the same beforehand. Gavaskar added, like how every team prepares for the IPL, where there is just a final - the same must happen for other format's finals too.</p>

<p>“No! This has been decided for a long time; you know even before you enter that first match of the cycle that the final is going to be just a one-off. So, you have to be prepared mentally,” Gavaskar said, as quoted in India Today.</p>

<p>“Just like you prepare for the IPL, you don’t say best of three. Everybody can have a bad day or a couple of days, but before the first ball of the cycle, you know what it is. So, you can’t be asking for a best of three. Tomorrow, you may say best of five,” the former India legend added.</p>

<h2>Pat, Sunny on the same page</h2>

<p>Elated after winning his maiden World Test Championship crown, Australia captain Pat Cummins expressed the same views as that of Gavaskar’s, saying there is no end to suggestions, and from a three-match series, it can go on and on. He added even players win medals in a one-off Olympic final.</p>

<p>"We already won the WTC title. Not only 3-match series for the WTC final, but there could also be 16-match series too. Players win medals in the Olympics with just one final,” Pat said after the WTC Final.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Australia will now face England in the Ashes 2023, with the first Test starting on June 16&nbsp;in Edgbaston, whereas, India will next travel to the Caribbean Islands for the extended tour, beginning July 12.</p>

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Former India legend Sunil Gavaskar has come down hard on the Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his latest remarks on the WTC Final being a one-off decider instead of the more desirable three-match series.

Former India legend Sunil Gavaskar has come down hard on the Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his latest remarks on the WTC Final being a one-off decider instead of the more desirable three-match series. On Sunday, for the second straight time, India lost the World Test Championship Final, this time against Australia by 209 runs at the Oval. During the post-match presser, Rohit suggested the WTC Final should be played across the best-of-three format. “I would like to play the 3-Test match series for the WTC Final. We worked hard, and we fought, but we played just one game. I think a 3-match series would be ideal in the next WTC cycle,” Rohit said after India failed to chase down 444 on the final day of the WTC Final. ALSO READ: After claiming WTC Final, Pat Cummins sets sight on winning away Ashes for first time in over two decades Unlike a few others who echoed exact words, Gavaskar slammed Rohit saying from day one of the WTC cycles, everyone knows the final will be a one-off Test, so on that note, every team must prepare them for the same beforehand. Gavaskar added, like how every team prepares for the IPL, where there is just a final - the same must happen for other format's finals too. “No! This has been decided for a long time; you know even before you enter that first match of the cycle that the final is going to be just a one-off. So, you have to be prepared mentally,” Gavaskar said, as quoted in India Today. “Just like you prepare for the IPL, you don’t say best of three. Everybody can have a bad day or a couple of days, but before the first ball of the cycle, you know what it is. So, you can’t be asking for a best of three. Tomorrow, you may say best of five,” the former India legend added. Pat, Sunny on the same page Elated after winning his maiden World Test Championship crown, Australia captain Pat Cummins expressed the same views as that of Gavaskar’s, saying there is no end to suggestions, and from a three-match series, it can go on and on. He added even players win medals in a one-off Olympic final. "We already won the WTC title. Not only 3-match series for the WTC final, but there could also be 16-match series too. Players win medals in the Olympics with just one final,” Pat said after the WTC Final. Meanwhile, Australia will now face England in the Ashes 2023, with the first Test starting on June 16 in Edgbaston, whereas, India will next travel to the Caribbean Islands for the extended tour, beginning July 12. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'You don't say this in IPL...': Gavaskar slams Rohit Sharma for his latest remarks on WTC Final format

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<p>Ace seamer Mitchell Starc got crowned the World Test Champion on Sunday after Australia beat India by 209 runs in the one-off Final at the Oval. Being one of the few Aussie&nbsp;players to lift three ICC trophies, Starc said playing for Australia remains his top choice. Having played the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) for just one season in 2014 (for RCB), Starc never opted to play in the tournament again, prioritising his fitness and the international schedule with Australia.</p>

<p>“I enjoyed it (IPL), likewise I enjoyed my time in Yorkshire 10 years ago, but Australia will always sit at the top. I don’t regret any of it, money will come and go, but I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had," Starc told&nbsp;<em>The Guardian</em>&nbsp;following the WTC Final in London.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-icc-fines-players-for-slow-over-rate-indias-star-batsman-fined-extra-603411">WTC Final: ICC fines players for slow over rate, India's star batsman fined extra</a></p>

<p>Taking pride in being one of Australia’s premier Test bowlers, having won several accolades over the years, Starc remains grateful to represent the Baggy Green. In his latest conversation with the British outlet, Starc added, “Over a hundred years of Test cricket and there’s been less than 500 men who have played it for Australia that in itself makes it very special to be a part of it.”</p>

<p>“Franchise cricket is great, but you can be bought or sold or traded in 12 months, whereas this is an opportunity (playing Tests) that I’ve been fortunate enough to have over ten years now to be able to pull on the baggy green with a lot of my close mates, guys I’ve grown up in the game with," the veteran pacer added.</p>

<h2>‘Hope kids growing up choose to play Test cricket</h2>

<p>In this fast-moving age and time, the shortest version of cricket is the go-to format for many young players. With the introduction of several franchise-based T20 leagues, and IPL being one of them, Starc said those platforms provide easy money, especially for the young kids growing up.&nbsp;His inclination, however, will remain towards playing Tests instead.</p>

<p>The left-arm seamer, who played 78 Tests, 110 ODIs and 58 T20Is, wishes for young kids to draw inspiration in playing the traditional formats.</p>

<p>“The traditionalist in me still hopes there is a generation of boys and girls who want to represent their country in Test cricket. But the easy money is in franchise cricket, it’s the fast track to notoriety," Starc said.</p>

<p>Though he didn’t rule out his participation in the Indian Premier League&nbsp;soon, Starc remained firm on not doing that at the expense of the Australian team’s success on the international stage.</p>

<p>“I’d certainly love to play in the IPL again, but my goal for a long time has been to be at my best for Australia, no matter the format," Starc said.</p>

<p>“There’s nothing I love more in cricket than to sit back with my teammates at the end of a Test win and reflect on the success we’ve had that week. To be able to pull on the baggy green with a lot of my close mates, guys I’ve grown up in the game with," he added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, after winning the WTC Final, Starc’s Australia will take on England in the away Ashes, starting on June 16&nbsp;in Edgbaston.</p>

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Ace seamer Mitchell Starc got crowned the World Test Champion on Sunday after Australia beat India by 209 runs in the one-off Final at the Oval. Being one of the few Aussie players to lift three ICC trophies, Starc said playing for Australia remains his top choice.

Ace seamer Mitchell Starc got crowned the World Test Champion on Sunday after Australia beat India by 209 runs in the one-off Final at the Oval. Being one of the few Aussie players to lift three ICC trophies, Starc said playing for Australia remains his top choice. Having played the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) for just one season in 2014 (for RCB), Starc never opted to play in the tournament again, prioritising his fitness and the international schedule with Australia. “I enjoyed it (IPL), likewise I enjoyed my time in Yorkshire 10 years ago, but Australia will always sit at the top. I don’t regret any of it, money will come and go, but I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had," Starc told The Guardian following the WTC Final in London. ALSO READ: WTC Final: ICC fines players for slow over rate, India's star batsman fined extra Taking pride in being one of Australia’s premier Test bowlers, having won several accolades over the years, Starc remains grateful to represent the Baggy Green. In his latest conversation with the British outlet, Starc added, “Over a hundred years of Test cricket and there’s been less than 500 men who have played it for Australia that in itself makes it very special to be a part of it.” “Franchise cricket is great, but you can be bought or sold or traded in 12 months, whereas this is an opportunity (playing Tests) that I’ve been fortunate enough to have over ten years now to be able to pull on the baggy green with a lot of my close mates, guys I’ve grown up in the game with," the veteran pacer added. ‘Hope kids growing up choose to play Test cricket In this fast-moving age and time, the shortest version of cricket is the go-to format for many young players. With the introduction of several franchise-based T20 leagues, and IPL being one of them, Starc said those platforms provide easy money, especially for the young kids growing up. His inclination, however, will remain towards playing Tests instead. The left-arm seamer, who played 78 Tests, 110 ODIs and 58 T20Is, wishes for young kids to draw inspiration in playing the traditional formats. “The traditionalist in me still hopes there is a generation of boys and girls who want to represent their country in Test cricket. But the easy money is in franchise cricket, it’s the fast track to notoriety," Starc said. Though he didn’t rule out his participation in the Indian Premier League soon, Starc remained firm on not doing that at the expense of the Australian team’s success on the international stage. “I’d certainly love to play in the IPL again, but my goal for a long time has been to be at my best for Australia, no matter the format," Starc said. “There’s nothing I love more in cricket than to sit back with my teammates at the end of a Test win and reflect on the success we’ve had that week. To be able to pull on the baggy green with a lot of my close mates, guys I’ve grown up in the game with," he added. Meanwhile, after winning the WTC Final, Starc’s Australia will take on England in the away Ashes, starting on June 16 in Edgbaston. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Enjoyed my stint in IPL but playing for Australia comes on top,' says World Test Champion Mitchell Starc

<p>The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined India and Australia for slow over rates during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final which concluded with Australia's victory on Sunday. India players have been fined 100 per cent of the match fees while Australia have been docked 80 per cent of the match fees in fine.</p>

<p>After the Test got over, the ICC reviewed the over rates and found India to be five overs short in the allotted time that included adjustment for breaks and extra time as well. Australia, on the other hand, were found four overs short.</p>

<p>According to the Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined 20 per cent of the match fee for each over they failed to bowl within the allotted time.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-sourav-ganguly-questions-coach-rahul-dravid-on-falling-average-of-indian-batters-603396">WTC Final: Sourav Ganguly questions coach Rahul Dravid on falling average of Indian batters</a></p>

<h2><strong>Shubman Gill fined extra</strong></h2>

<p>India batsman Shubman Gill has been fined 15 per cent of the match fee separately as well for appearing to criticise the TV umpire's decision to give him out on day 4. As per the ICC rules, Gill breached Article 2.7 which pertains to public criticism or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an international match. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The opening batsman, in total, has been fined 115 per cent of his match fees and would have to pay back to the ICC.</p>

<h2><strong>The Gill incident</strong></h2>

<p>Shubman Gill was batting fluently on day 4 in India's second innings when a ball by Scott Boland bounced a bit extra and took the bat's edge. The ball, which went to the slips area, was caught by Cameron Green, who immediately started celebrating. The decision was referred to the TV umpire, who ruled against Gill.</p>

<p>The decision didn't go down well with the Indian fans and even cricket experts who felt that that ball had touched the ground before Green scooped it. Gill also showed his disappointment as he tweeted a picture the next day with a facepalm emoticon where Green could be seen in motion to catch the ball.</p>

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined India and Australia for slow over rates during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final which concluded with Australia's victory on Sunday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined India and Australia for slow over rates during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final which concluded with Australia's victory on Sunday. India players have been fined 100 per cent of the match fees while Australia have been docked 80 per cent of the match fees in fine. After the Test got over, the ICC reviewed the over rates and found India to be five overs short in the allotted time that included adjustment for breaks and extra time as well. Australia, on the other hand, were found four overs short. According to the Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined 20 per cent of the match fee for each over they failed to bowl within the allotted time. Also Read: WTC Final: Sourav Ganguly questions coach Rahul Dravid on falling average of Indian batters Shubman Gill fined extra India batsman Shubman Gill has been fined 15 per cent of the match fee separately as well for appearing to criticise the TV umpire's decision to give him out on day 4. As per the ICC rules, Gill breached Article 2.7 which pertains to public criticism or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an international match. The opening batsman, in total, has been fined 115 per cent of his match fees and would have to pay back to the ICC. The Gill incident Shubman Gill was batting fluently on day 4 in India's second innings when a ball by Scott Boland bounced a bit extra and took the bat's edge. The ball, which went to the slips area, was caught by Cameron Green, who immediately started celebrating. The decision was referred to the TV umpire, who ruled against Gill. The decision didn't go down well with the Indian fans and even cricket experts who felt that that ball had touched the ground before Green scooped it. Gill also showed his disappointment as he tweeted a picture the next day with a facepalm emoticon where Green could be seen in motion to catch the ball. 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: ICC fines players for slow over rate, India's star batsman fined extra

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