<p>Team India’s injury crisis took another toll on Friday, May 5 after KL Rahul was ruled out of the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season while he will also miss the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London in June. With the news coming as a brutal blow to India’s preparations, Suryakumar Yadav could get an opportunity in the squad as a stand-by, having missed out on the initial 15-member squad for the WTC final against Australia in June.</p>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr22wbHL9MP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr22wbHL9MP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr22wbHL9MP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr22wbHL9MP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by KL Rahul👑 (@klrahul)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

<p>It was confirmed earlier in the day that, Rahul won’t be participating in the WTC final he will also miss the rest of the IPL season. Suryakumar, who made his Test debut against Australia in February, could now be on the stand-by list as a direct replacement for Rahul who injured his hamstring against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Monday.</p>

<p>"After careful consideration and consultation with the medical team, it's been concluded that I'll be undergoing a surgery on my thigh shortly. My focus will be on my rehabilitation and recovery in the coming weeks. It's a tough call to make, but I know it's the right one to ensure a full recovery," Rahul captioned his post.</p>

<p>"As the team captain, it pains me deeply not to be able to be there during this crucial period. But, I'm confident that the boys will rise to the occasion and give their best performance as always. I'll be cheering for them from the sidelines with all of you, watching every game. @lucknowsupergiants.</p>

<p>"Absolutely gutted that I won't be at the Oval next month with Team India. I'll do everything I can to get back in blue and help my country. That has always been my focus and priority. @indiancricketteam"</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/narendra-modi-stadium-in-ahmedabad-is-likely-to-host-india-vs-pakistan-2023-world-cup-clash-reports-589110">Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is likely to host India vs Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash - Reports</a></p>

<p>"I want to express gratitude to each one of you - my fans, that gave me the strength to get back up, the LSG management and the BCCI for their promptness, and my teammates for their unwavering support during this difficult time,” read Rahul’s post.</p>

<p><strong>India’s Test squad WTC final:</strong> Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<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>


Team India’s injury crisis took another toll on Friday, May 5 after KL Rahul was ruled out of the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season while he will also miss the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London in June.

Team India’s injury crisis took another toll on Friday, May 5 after KL Rahul was ruled out of the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season while he will also miss the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London in June. With the news coming as a brutal blow to India’s preparations, Suryakumar Yadav could get an opportunity in the squad as a stand-by, having missed out on the initial 15-member squad for the WTC final against Australia in June. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KL Rahul👑 (@klrahul) It was confirmed earlier in the day that, Rahul won’t be participating in the WTC final he will also miss the rest of the IPL season. Suryakumar, who made his Test debut against Australia in February, could now be on the stand-by list as a direct replacement for Rahul who injured his hamstring against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Monday. "After careful consideration and consultation with the medical team, it's been concluded that I'll be undergoing a surgery on my thigh shortly. My focus will be on my rehabilitation and recovery in the coming weeks. It's a tough call to make, but I know it's the right one to ensure a full recovery," Rahul captioned his post. "As the team captain, it pains me deeply not to be able to be there during this crucial period. But, I'm confident that the boys will rise to the occasion and give their best performance as always. I'll be cheering for them from the sidelines with all of you, watching every game. @lucknowsupergiants. "Absolutely gutted that I won't be at the Oval next month with Team India. I'll do everything I can to get back in blue and help my country. That has always been my focus and priority. @indiancricketteam" ALSO READ | Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is likely to host India vs Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash - Reports "I want to express gratitude to each one of you - my fans, that gave me the strength to get back up, the LSG management and the BCCI for their promptness, and my teammates for their unwavering support during this difficult time,” read Rahul’s post. India’s Test squad WTC final: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WTC Final: Suryakumar Yadav likely to be on stand-by list with KL Rahul out of Oval face-off against Aussies

<p>Team India could face another injury scare ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final with Jaydev Unadkat a major doubt. Playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Unadkat got injured in the nets on Sunday before the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clash at home and could now be a major doubt along with KL Rahul, who also limped off with a hamstring problem.</p>

<h2><strong>What happened to Unadkat?</strong></h2>

<p>Unadkat was bowling around the wicket in the nets when in his follow through his left foot got stuck in the rope that keeps the nets up. He had a nasty fall on his elbow and was seen with his arm in a sling with an ice pack on his left shoulder, as reported by Espncricinfo.</p>

<p>Unadkat was in great form during the domestic season for Saurashtra and led them to their second title in the Ranji Trophy. During the season Unadkat became the first player to take a hat-trick in the first over of a Ranji Trophy match and scalped 26 wickets in four matches. He also made his return to the Indian team after 12 years and was reckoned to be one of the options for India during the summit clash at the Oval in London.</p>

<p>It is also understood that the Saurashtra will remain in Lucknow with the rest of the squad during which the team management will keep a close eye on the situation. The extent of the injury is still unknown with the management yet to comment on the injury.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-commentators-argue-whether-kl-rahul-should-have-used-stretcher-after-injury-vs-rcb-588081">IPL 2023: Commentators argue whether KL Rahul should have used stretcher after injury vs RCB</a></p>

<p>On the flip side, skipper KL Rahul is also part of the treatment table and could be out of LSG’s next clash on Wednesday, May 3 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The Lucknow-based franchise has been on a torrid run of home form and lost their last three home matches.</p>

<p>For Rahul, he was seen injuring his hamstring while making an attempt during the field and was consequently injured. The management nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are yet to comment on Rahul’s injury.</p>

<p>India’s Test squad WTC final: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.</p>


Team India could face another injury scare ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final with Jaydev Unadkat a major doubt. Playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Unadkat got injured in the nets on Sunday before the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clash at home and could now be a major doubt along with KL Rahul, who also limped off with a hamstring problem.

Team India could face another injury scare ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final with Jaydev Unadkat a major doubt. Playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Unadkat got injured in the nets on Sunday before the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clash at home and could now be a major doubt along with KL Rahul, who also limped off with a hamstring problem. What happened to Unadkat? Unadkat was bowling around the wicket in the nets when in his follow through his left foot got stuck in the rope that keeps the nets up. He had a nasty fall on his elbow and was seen with his arm in a sling with an ice pack on his left shoulder, as reported by Espncricinfo. Unadkat was in great form during the domestic season for Saurashtra and led them to their second title in the Ranji Trophy. During the season Unadkat became the first player to take a hat-trick in the first over of a Ranji Trophy match and scalped 26 wickets in four matches. He also made his return to the Indian team after 12 years and was reckoned to be one of the options for India during the summit clash at the Oval in London. It is also understood that the Saurashtra will remain in Lucknow with the rest of the squad during which the team management will keep a close eye on the situation. The extent of the injury is still unknown with the management yet to comment on the injury. ALSO READ | IPL 2023: Commentators argue whether KL Rahul should have used stretcher after injury vs RCB On the flip side, skipper KL Rahul is also part of the treatment table and could be out of LSG’s next clash on Wednesday, May 3 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The Lucknow-based franchise has been on a torrid run of home form and lost their last three home matches. For Rahul, he was seen injuring his hamstring while making an attempt during the field and was consequently injured. The management nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are yet to comment on Rahul’s injury. India’s Test squad WTC final: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

WTC Final: Team India likely to face another blow, Jaydev Unadkat joins casualty list with shoulder problem

<p>Ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, Team India dethroned Australia to become the No. 1 Test team in the latest ICC Rankings released on Tuesday (May 02).&nbsp;The International Cricket Council announced the development and claimed that Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. moved up to take the top spot due to the annual rankings update, which changes weighage for older matches.</p>

<p>Australia&nbsp;remained the top-ranked side&nbsp;despite their&nbsp;2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy to India early this year with 122 points. However, they have now moved a spot below India, ending their 15-month-long stay at the top.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 New World No.1 🚨<br />
<br />
India dethrone Australia in the annual update of the <a href="https://twitter.com/MRFWorldwide?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MRFWorldwide</a> ICC Men's Test Rankings ahead of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC23</a> Final 👀</p>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1653308396672802817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-dont-understand-why-kl-rahul-moody-opines-on-injured-lsg-skippers-batting-slot-vs-rcb-588176">IPL 2023: 'Don't understand why KL Rahul...': Moody opines on injured LSG skipper's batting slot vs RCB</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, India has reclaimed the top spot after a long time. They lost the numero uno position after losing the three-match Test series versus South Africa, going down by a 1-2 margin, early in 2022. The series defeat, in the African nation, also marked the end of Virat Kohli's Test captaincy tenure.</p>

<p>"The annual rankings consider all series completed since May 2020, with series completed before May 2022 weighted at 50 percent and all subsequent series weighted at 100 percent," ICC said in their release on Tuesday.</p>

<p>It is to be noted that there are no changes in the overall standings apart from India and Australia swapping spots. Ben Stokes-led England have, however, bridging the gap with second-ranked Australia with 114 points ahead of Ashes 2023, adding to the excitement for the forthcoming series in the United Kingdom soon after the WTC final.</p>


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqA1rUw6pCFEf" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>The BCCI has named a few standbys for the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, the final 15-member squad for which was announced recently. As per the latest reports, the board has picked five players, mainly Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar, as backups. Ahead of the final, which begins on June 7th at the Oval, the Indian team will also play a multi-day warm-up game.</p>

<p>As per Times of India (TOI), an unnamed senior BCCI official has conveyed these names for standbys and also informed that those players, who will not feature in the IPL 2023 playoffs, which start from May 23rd, will travel to England earlier than others to get acclimatise to the conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kane-williamson-could-still-travel-to-india-for-50-over-world-cup-even-if-hes-unfit-claims-coach-gary-stead-586549">Kane Williamson can still travel to India for 50-over World Cup even if he's unfit, says Gary Stead</a></p>

<p>The report also suggests that after consulting with MS Dhoni, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane was picked in the Test squad for the first time since January 2022. Rahane, sold to CSK for INR 50 lacs at last year's auction, has been a standout performer for Chennai Super Kings this season. Upon hitting his fastest fifty in his debut match for CSK, Rahane broke the shackles with his incredible 29-ball 71 against Kolkata Knight Riders, hitting six fours and five sixes.</p>

<p>Trying to find his feet after losing the BCCI’s central contract, Rahane, who also did well in the Ranji season before this, shined under MS Dhoni in yellow colours – and given his run of form, he is not likely to put a full stop.</p>

<p>While Rahane’s selection raised questions over the criteria for picking players in international cricket, a few others, like former head coach Ravi Shastri backed this call of going ahead with him in the all-important final.</p>

<p>He even tweeted saying this was the best squad the selectors could have picked for the WTC final against Australia.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, all of the above-mentioned standbys are currently plying their trade for their respective franchises in the IPL 2023, with Ruturaj doing well.</p>

<p><strong>Here is the final 15-man India squad for the WTC final –</strong></p>

<p>Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat</p>


The BCCI has named a few standbys for the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, the final 15-member squad for which was announced recently. As per the latest reports, the board has picked five players, mainly Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar, as backups.

The BCCI has named a few standbys for the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, the final 15-member squad for which was announced recently. As per the latest reports, the board has picked five players, mainly Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar, as backups. Ahead of the final, which begins on June 7th at the Oval, the Indian team will also play a multi-day warm-up game. As per Times of India (TOI), an unnamed senior BCCI official has conveyed these names for standbys and also informed that those players, who will not feature in the IPL 2023 playoffs, which start from May 23rd, will travel to England earlier than others to get acclimatise to the conditions. ALSO READ: Kane Williamson can still travel to India for 50-over World Cup even if he's unfit, says Gary Stead The report also suggests that after consulting with MS Dhoni, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane was picked in the Test squad for the first time since January 2022. Rahane, sold to CSK for INR 50 lacs at last year's auction, has been a standout performer for Chennai Super Kings this season. Upon hitting his fastest fifty in his debut match for CSK, Rahane broke the shackles with his incredible 29-ball 71 against Kolkata Knight Riders, hitting six fours and five sixes. Trying to find his feet after losing the BCCI’s central contract, Rahane, who also did well in the Ranji season before this, shined under MS Dhoni in yellow colours – and given his run of form, he is not likely to put a full stop. While Rahane’s selection raised questions over the criteria for picking players in international cricket, a few others, like former head coach Ravi Shastri backed this call of going ahead with him in the all-important final. He even tweeted saying this was the best squad the selectors could have picked for the WTC final against Australia. Meanwhile, all of the above-mentioned standbys are currently plying their trade for their respective franchises in the IPL 2023, with Ruturaj doing well. Here is the final 15-man India squad for the WTC final – Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat

WTC Final: Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad picked as standbys, India likely to play a multi-day warm-up match

<p>Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan thinks that KL Rahul would be a better fit at the top order in India's playing XI in the WTC Final against Australia instead of Shubman Gill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to Cricbuzz, Vaughan said, "I'm not sure they will do that (replacing Shubman with KL Rahul) because I'm not in the selection room. (But) don't pick a team on what's next, or who's going to play in the West Indies… you've got to pick (the team for) that one game of cricket."</p>

<p>Vaughan went on to explain his logic behind supporting KL Rahul for the opening slot over Shubman Gill despite the latter performing decently enough during India's last Test series.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-set-to-miss-2023-icc-odi-world-cup-claims-report-586195">Rishabh Pant set to miss 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, claims report</a></p>

<p>"The only change that they could make in English conditions, is that KL Rahul plays the moving ball better than Shubman Gill. Shubman's a tremendous young player, but you've got to win that one game of cricket. Forget history, it's about picking the best XI to win the World Test Championship. When it's straight, Shubman is a dangerous player but I've seen a few little technical deficiencies. When the ball moves, he takes his hand little bit too much towards the ball. He snicks off quite consistently," explained the fomer English cricketer.</p>

<p>Notably, India dropped KL Rahul from the Playing XI during the Border-Gavaskar Test series following a string of low scores. Rahul scored only 38 runs in three innings of two Tests he was part of with a high score of 20. His replacement Gill, meanwhile, fared much better as he scored 154 runs in three innings of two Tests, including a century.</p>

<p>As of now, Shubman Gill seems a lock in the Playing XI for the WTC Final starting June 7, but things could be changed any moment and for better or for worse.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<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 England cricketer Michael Vaughan thinks that KL Rahul would be a better fit at the top order in India's playing XI in the WTC Final against Australia instead of Shubman Gill.

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan thinks that KL Rahul would be a better fit at the top order in India's playing XI in the WTC Final against Australia instead of Shubman Gill. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Vaughan said, "I'm not sure they will do that (replacing Shubman with KL Rahul) because I'm not in the selection room. (But) don't pick a team on what's next, or who's going to play in the West Indies… you've got to pick (the team for) that one game of cricket." Vaughan went on to explain his logic behind supporting KL Rahul for the opening slot over Shubman Gill despite the latter performing decently enough during India's last Test series. Also Read: Rishabh Pant set to miss 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, claims report "The only change that they could make in English conditions, is that KL Rahul plays the moving ball better than Shubman Gill. Shubman's a tremendous young player, but you've got to win that one game of cricket. Forget history, it's about picking the best XI to win the World Test Championship. When it's straight, Shubman is a dangerous player but I've seen a few little technical deficiencies. When the ball moves, he takes his hand little bit too much towards the ball. He snicks off quite consistently," explained the fomer English cricketer. Notably, India dropped KL Rahul from the Playing XI during the Border-Gavaskar Test series following a string of low scores. Rahul scored only 38 runs in three innings of two Tests he was part of with a high score of 20. His replacement Gill, meanwhile, fared much better as he scored 154 runs in three innings of two Tests, including a century. As of now, Shubman Gill seems a lock in the Playing XI for the WTC Final starting June 7, but things could be changed any moment and for better or for worse. 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: Michael Vaughan wants India to replace Gill with KL Rahul as opener in England for THIS reason

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


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

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

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

<p>The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the World Test Championship Final to be played against Australia in England from June 7, 2023.</p>

<p>BCCI has named six batsmen in the squad apart from a wicketkeeper. In the bowling department, the board has gone with three spinners and five fast bowlers. Rohit Sharma has been named captain while no vice-captain has been designated for the squad.</p>

<p>Rohit Sharma, apart from leading the side, is expected to open the batting along side Shubman Gill with Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli slotted next. KS Bharat has been designated the wicketkeeper in squad. Assuming that three fast bowlers and two spinners will be in the playing XI, the last batsman slot is open to be grabbed by Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-virat-kohli-fined-24-lakhs-other-rcb-players-fined-6-lakhs-for-slow-over-rate-vs-rr-585868">Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR</a></p>

<p>Among the three spinners named in the squad, Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to get a nod ahead of Axar Patel. In the fast bowling department, Sahrdul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat have been able to secure a place.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 NEWS 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final announced.<br />
<br />
Details 🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC23</a> <a href="https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU">https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIcH530rOL">pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL</a></p>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1650734453076148224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The most surprising name in the entire squad is of Ajinkya Rahane. The former India Test vice-captain was not the part of India's last Test series against Australia. He, however, has turned heads with his performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).</p>

<p>Rahane plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has hit two fifties in five matches he has played so far. The batsman has hit 204 runs in the season at a strike rate of 199.04 and an average of 52.25</p>

<p><strong>India's squad for WTC Final:</strong> Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<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>


The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the World Test Championship Final to be played against Australia in England from June 7, 2023.

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

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

<p>The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia, which will be held next month at The Oval, London. In the 15-member squad, Ajinkya Rahane made a comeback into the national side on the back of a decent run in the Ranji Trophy 2022/23 edition and his recent success in the ongoing IPL 2023 edition for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).</p>

<p>Rahane's comeback was mainly possible after Shreyas Iyer got injured, due to his persistent back issues, and Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will bank on him in the English conditions given his overall experience. Many former cricketers and experts have shared their take on Rahane's return. MSK Prasad, former Indian chief selector, also joined the bandwagon and gave a thumbs up to the former Indian Test vice-captain's return.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to IndiaToday, Prasad said, "It’s a fair team, it’s the right call. Ajinkya&nbsp;with so much of uncertainty in the middle-order, I think they (selectors) were absolutely right. I am very, very happy for him. He has always been a wonderful performer for India in the away series. And I think he fits the bill perfectly. Full credit to the selectors for bringing him back."</p>

<p><iframe aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="2" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" role="region" scrolling="no" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>"Basically, his attitude is like a monk's. He is never disturbed when he is not selected. He is not over-excited when he is selected. He is that kind of a guy. His mood doesn't swing up and down, just like that. He is a very mature person. Unfortunately, because of a dip in his form, he had to sit out," he added.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 NEWS 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> squad for ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final announced.<br />
<br />
Details 🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTC23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTC23</a> <a href="https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU">https://t.co/sz7F5ByfiU</a> <a href="https://t.co/KIcH530rOL">pic.twitter.com/KIcH530rOL</a></p>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1650734453076148224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Rahane was part of India's playing XI when they faced eventual winners New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final, at Southampton, in 2021. He returned with scores of 49 and 15 and will hope to contribute with a big knock this time around and lead India to a memorable win.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unseen-ms-dhoni-loses-cool-screams-and-gives-death-stare-to-his-csk-teammate-watch-586028">IPL 2023: UNSEEN! MS Dhoni loses cool, screams and gives DEATH STARE to his CSK teammate - Watch</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>INDIA SQUAD FOR WTC FINAL</strong></p>

<p>Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.</p>


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

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

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

<p>Former Australia captain and commentator Mark Taylor has backed David Warner for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in June while he struggled for the national side recently. Warner has been on the backlash of fans and former cricketers after failing to make a mark in the India tour and home series against South Africa. Taylor also urged the Australia selectors to play Warner in the first two Ashes Tests while keeping Cameron Bancroft or Matt Renshaw as the backup openers.</p>

<p>"If I am reading the tea leaves right, it sounds like they will stick with David for the World Test Championship at The Oval," the former Test captain told AAP.</p>

<p>Taylor, who succeeded World Cup winner Alan Border in 1994, thinks Warner still has enough in the tank to lead Australia to WTC glory.</p>

<p>"And if that's the way Australia are thinking about the World Test Championship, then yes, they have to start with him for the Ashes.</p>

<p>According to the former skipper, seeing Usman Khawaja and Warner open would be a hard perspective when they take on India at the Oval in June. He has backed the team to keep faith in the same openers for the WTC final as well as the first three Ashes Tests.</p>

<p>"It would be very hard to have Usman Khawaja and Warner open the batting and then change a week later for the first Test at Edgbaston. Whoever they think is our best opening combination for the World Test Championship, should do the first three Tests of the summer."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rcbs-virat-kohli-fined-by-bcci-for-aggressive-behaviour-in-csk-tie-583544">IPL 2023: RCB's Virat Kohli fined by BCCI for 'aggressive behaviour' in CSK tie</a></p>

<p>Speaking on potential successors to Warner if he fails, Taylor has recommended Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw as the potential headline makers. Bancroft has not played a Test match since the 2019 Ashes, but was the leading run-scorer in this summer's Sheffield Shield with 945 at an average of 59.06, while Renshaw played for the Aussies in the India series.</p>

<p>"My old way of thinking, I always like a right-and-left-hander combination. So I would love to see Cameron Bancroft get another opportunity at the top of the order," he said. "I see Renshaw has been making runs in New Zealand [for Australia A], but Bancroft has made a heap of runs in the Australian summer.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<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 Australia captain and commentator Mark Taylor has backed David Warner for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in June while he struggled for the national side recently.

Former Australia captain and commentator Mark Taylor has backed David Warner for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in June while he struggled for the national side recently. Warner has been on the backlash of fans and former cricketers after failing to make a mark in the India tour and home series against South Africa. Taylor also urged the Australia selectors to play Warner in the first two Ashes Tests while keeping Cameron Bancroft or Matt Renshaw as the backup openers. "If I am reading the tea leaves right, it sounds like they will stick with David for the World Test Championship at The Oval," the former Test captain told AAP. Taylor, who succeeded World Cup winner Alan Border in 1994, thinks Warner still has enough in the tank to lead Australia to WTC glory. "And if that's the way Australia are thinking about the World Test Championship, then yes, they have to start with him for the Ashes. According to the former skipper, seeing Usman Khawaja and Warner open would be a hard perspective when they take on India at the Oval in June. He has backed the team to keep faith in the same openers for the WTC final as well as the first three Ashes Tests. "It would be very hard to have Usman Khawaja and Warner open the batting and then change a week later for the first Test at Edgbaston. Whoever they think is our best opening combination for the World Test Championship, should do the first three Tests of the summer." ALSO READ | IPL 2023: RCB's Virat Kohli fined by BCCI for 'aggressive behaviour' in CSK tie Speaking on potential successors to Warner if he fails, Taylor has recommended Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw as the potential headline makers. Bancroft has not played a Test match since the 2019 Ashes, but was the leading run-scorer in this summer's Sheffield Shield with 945 at an average of 59.06, while Renshaw played for the Aussies in the India series. "My old way of thinking, I always like a right-and-left-hander combination. So I would love to see Cameron Bancroft get another opportunity at the top of the order," he said. "I see Renshaw has been making runs in New Zealand [for Australia A], but Bancroft has made a heap of runs in the Australian summer. 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.

World Test Championship: Mark Taylor backs THIS IPL star for showpiece final, also urges for two Ashes Tests

<p>The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28. Soon after the end of IPL 2023, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will reassemble and leave for the United Kingdom to lock horns with Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the 2021-23 cycle.</p>

<p>After missing out on winning the inaugural WTC cycle, and losing to New Zealand in 2021, India will hope to make the most of this opportunity and&nbsp;end their 10-year-long ICC-title drought. While Indian players have been asked to manage their workload efficiently in IPL 2023, there have already been some injury concerns ahead of the WTC summit clash, on June 07 at The Oval, London. While Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have already been ruled out, Shreyas Iyer is also out of contention.</p>

<p>With Iyer's back injury resurfacing during India-Australia home Tests, he is out of IPL 2023 and will also miss the high-voltage WTC clash. Thus, India have some tough calls to&nbsp;smartly pack their middle order for the marquee clash, keeping the English conditions in mind.</p>

<p>Many experts have chipped in the idea of KL Rahul to open with Rohit as the duo was a successful pair during India's four Tests in England in the 2021 English summer. However, Rahul's low returns -- in Australia Tests and IPL 2023 so far -- aren't unknown. If&nbsp;the team management still persists&nbsp;with Rahul-Rohit as their openers, this could drop in-form batter Shubman Gill at No. 5 (an alien spot for him);&nbsp;filling in for Iyer. Nonetheless, Ajinkya Rahane's two good outings for his new franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing IPL season have led to many ardent Indian cricket fans and former cricketers suggesting his inclusion.</p>

<p><strong>Rahane for WTC final?</strong></p>

<p>It is to be noted that Rahane has made scores of 61 (27) and 31 (19), striking at over 200 (225.92) and 150 (163.15) respectively, so far in his two innings for CSK. While many can say that IPL isn't an ideal platform for any batter's&nbsp;return in Tests, that too after two-long years, Rahane has had a good domestic run as well.</p>

<p>Rahane scored 634 runs (with a best of 204)&nbsp;in seven matches, at an average of&nbsp;57.63, with a hundred and two fifties for Mumbai in the 2022/23 Ranji Trophy season. While he could have gone for a County stint (like Cheteshwar Pujara), rather than plying his trade in the IPL, a dearth of middle-order batters with Iyer and Pant's injury has brightened the chances for Rahane.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-it-comes-to-carrying-water-or-helping-out-someone-hes-such-a-team-man-ravi-shastri-hails-csk-batter-581710">'If it comes to carrying water or helping out someone, he's such a team man': Ravi Shastri hails CSK batter</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>What are the numbers for Rahane?</strong></p>

<p>Now, let's focus on Rahane's numbers in Tests, particularly in England. The right-hander has scored 4,931 Test runs in 82 Tests, with 12 hundreds and 25 half-centuries. In England, he has amassed 729 runs in 15 Tests, at a woeful average of 26.03, with a solitary hundred and five fifties. He has two memorable knocks in English conditions; 103 (Lord's Test, 2014) and 81 (Trent Bridge, 2018).</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Rahane has a total of 1,090 runs versus Australia at an average of 37.58 with two centuries and five half-centuries (only one at home). In addition, he has scored&nbsp;884 of those in Australia, which includes both his tons.</p>

<p>Above all, it is Rahane's experience that the Rohit-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team will bank up on if he earns a recall. A stage as big as a WTC final and an opposition as formidable as Pat Cummins-led Australia (against whom he scored his last ton -- a memorable 112)&nbsp;can perfectly motivate a senior pro like Rahane.</p>

<p>Given, Rahane has already tasted failure with the Virat Kohli-led Indian side in the inaugural WTC final, where he scored 49 and 15, the 34-year-old will be highly charged in possibly his last ICC final. In the twilight of his career, it goes without saying that the Mumbaikar will be desperate to make the most of any chance presented to him.</p>

<p><strong>Fire to perform is still burning strong!</strong></p>

<p>After his spirited 27-ball 61 in CSK debut, versus Mumbai Indians (MI), at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai,&nbsp;a determined Rahane subtly reminded the critics that it is still early to write him off. At the post-match presentation, he said, "I was just told to focus on my strengths and focus on preparation. I love playing at the Wankhede, I know the ground well. Have not played a Test here, yet." He even smiled when on-air commentators praised his usage of 'yet'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, at the post-match presser, he stated, "Still, a long way to go [WTC final]. Today, I was not sure about my place in the eleven, (and) got to know just before the toss. For me, it is about playing one game at a time and staying in the moment. "Anything can happen. I will never give up. For me it is about playing with enjoyment and passion," Rahane added.</p>

<p>For now, Rahane needs to continue to tick the basics and add runs for CSK. If he continues in the same manner, the batting maestro -- and also a highly acclaimed slip fielder --&nbsp;might be in India's scheme of things&nbsp;to star in the playing XI for the WTC final.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is churning out nail-biting contests with each passing day. The ongoing season has already become a hit and is on course for more success before its conclusion on May 28.

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

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

<p>India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out. In addition, Iyer will miss the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, at The Oval, London, in early June as he will undergo a back surgery.</p>

<p>As per ESPNcricinfo, Iyer will be travelling overseas for the surgery and, thus, will be out of cricketing action for at least three months before he resumes training. The 28-year-old has been dealing with back issues for a long time. He had missed the first Test of the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition before his back complaints resurfaced during the final Test, in Ahmedabad. As a result, he missed the three-match ODI series versus Australia. Before the India-Australia Tests, he&nbsp;had experienced problems due to the same injury in December after the end of India's tour of Bangladesh.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-ms-dhoni-hits-two-mammoth-sixes-during-csks-chepauk-return-as-crowd-goes-bonkers-watch-579031">&nbsp;IPL 2023: MS Dhoni hits two mammoth sixes during CSK's Chepauk return as crowd goes bonkers - Watch</a></strong></p>

<p>In Iyer's absence, Nitish Rana was made KKR's interim captain and will now lead the side in the remainder of the IPL 2023 edition. Moreover, Rohit Sharma-led India will have to find a suitable replacement for Iyer before they square off versus Australia in the WTC finale, to be held in the United Kingdom soon after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL season.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Iyer is expected to remain out of action till June end but it will all depend on how his surgery goes abroad. The batter will be aiming to return to the Indian team before Asia Cup 2023, which will be followed by the ICC ODI World Cup -- to be held in India in October-November.</p>


India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out.

India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out. In addition, Iyer will miss the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, at The Oval, London, in early June as he will undergo a back surgery. As per ESPNcricinfo, Iyer will be travelling overseas for the surgery and, thus, will be out of cricketing action for at least three months before he resumes training. The 28-year-old has been dealing with back issues for a long time. He had missed the first Test of the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition before his back complaints resurfaced during the final Test, in Ahmedabad. As a result, he missed the three-match ODI series versus Australia. Before the India-Australia Tests, he had experienced problems due to the same injury in December after the end of India's tour of Bangladesh. Also Read: IPL 2023: MS Dhoni hits two mammoth sixes during CSK's Chepauk return as crowd goes bonkers - Watch In Iyer's absence, Nitish Rana was made KKR's interim captain and will now lead the side in the remainder of the IPL 2023 edition. Moreover, Rohit Sharma-led India will have to find a suitable replacement for Iyer before they square off versus Australia in the WTC finale, to be held in the United Kingdom soon after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL season. Meanwhile, Iyer is expected to remain out of action till June end but it will all depend on how his surgery goes abroad. The batter will be aiming to return to the Indian team before Asia Cup 2023, which will be followed by the ICC ODI World Cup -- to be held in India in October-November.

Shreyas Iyer Injury update - KKR skipper ruled out of IPL 2023, to also miss WTC Final

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidmm8WjwySArNW" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>The Indian cricket team is hands down one of the best teams across formats, but they still haven’t won an ICC trophy in a decade, having last won under MS Dhoni in the 2013 – Champions Trophy. Though they came close to winning titles on several occasions in the past, they fell short of releasing their dream every time. Given India now chase two ICC titles in the 2023 – World Test Championship final against Australia and the home World Cup later, former India coach Ravi Shastri feels India is closer to winning an ICC trophy and has asked fans to keep patience.</p>

<p>Citing examples of the great Sachin Tendulkar and Lionel Messi – both of whom are best in their respective fields, Shastri said even it took them more than four World Cups to finally lift one. While Sachin won a World Cup trophy in his sixth attempt, Messi claimed the top prize in world football aged 35.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mitchell-perry-grabs-the-catch-of-the-summer-in-sheffield-shield-final-575228">WATCH: Mitchell Perry grabs the 'catch of the summer' in Sheffield Shield final</a></p>

<p>Other than MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma led India in the ICC tournaments across formats but haven’t been able to win an ICC trophy. Shastri, under whom India reached the semis of the 2019 World Cup in England, said once India break the barrier of winning the knockout games in ICC events, they will win trophies for fun.</p>

<p>“I think India are due. They have been consistent - they reached finals, and semi-finals regularly. Look at Sachin Tendulkar. He had to play six World Cups to win one ICC trophy. 6 World Cups mean 24 years. And in his last World Cup, he won. Look at Lionel Messi. Classic example that is. I mean how long he has been playing? And when he started winning, he won the Copa America, and the World Cup and scored in the final as well. So you have to wait. It will rain,” Shastri told&nbsp;Sports Yaari, as quoted by Hindustan Times.</p>

<p>Following winning the marquee 2023 Border-Gavaskar series, India qualified for the finals of the WTC, scheduled to take place on June 7th at the Oval in London. There they will face Australia for the coveted trophy. Last time, India also reached the finals but lost to New Zealand by eight wickets.</p>


The Indian cricket team is hands down one of the best teams across formats, but they still haven’t won an ICC trophy in a decade, having last won under MS Dhoni in the 2013 – Champions Trophy.

The Indian cricket team is hands down one of the best teams across formats, but they still haven’t won an ICC trophy in a decade, having last won under MS Dhoni in the 2013 – Champions Trophy. Though they came close to winning titles on several occasions in the past, they fell short of releasing their dream every time. Given India now chase two ICC titles in the 2023 – World Test Championship final against Australia and the home World Cup later, former India coach Ravi Shastri feels India is closer to winning an ICC trophy and has asked fans to keep patience. Citing examples of the great Sachin Tendulkar and Lionel Messi – both of whom are best in their respective fields, Shastri said even it took them more than four World Cups to finally lift one. While Sachin won a World Cup trophy in his sixth attempt, Messi claimed the top prize in world football aged 35. ALSO READ: WATCH: Mitchell Perry grabs the 'catch of the summer' in Sheffield Shield final Other than MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma led India in the ICC tournaments across formats but haven’t been able to win an ICC trophy. Shastri, under whom India reached the semis of the 2019 World Cup in England, said once India break the barrier of winning the knockout games in ICC events, they will win trophies for fun. “I think India are due. They have been consistent - they reached finals, and semi-finals regularly. Look at Sachin Tendulkar. He had to play six World Cups to win one ICC trophy. 6 World Cups mean 24 years. And in his last World Cup, he won. Look at Lionel Messi. Classic example that is. I mean how long he has been playing? And when he started winning, he won the Copa America, and the World Cup and scored in the final as well. So you have to wait. It will rain,” Shastri told Sports Yaari, as quoted by Hindustan Times. Following winning the marquee 2023 Border-Gavaskar series, India qualified for the finals of the WTC, scheduled to take place on June 7th at the Oval in London. There they will face Australia for the coveted trophy. Last time, India also reached the finals but lost to New Zealand by eight wickets.

Sachin, Messi waited long for World Cup title, so be patient, India's chance will come, feels Ravi Shastri

<p>India's all-format captain Rohit Sharma said its up to the IPL franchises now to takecare of World Cup-bound players workload management. Following the Chennai ODI against Australia, all players will now wear their respective IPL kits as the 16th edition of the cash-rich league begins on March 31st.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Concerned about the crunch window of mere two weeks between the IPL 2023 final and the 2023 WTC final, Rohit said the board and the team management has already informed about the same to all the franchises, and now the ball is in their court.</p>

<p>"It's all up to the franchise now. Franchises own them now. We've given them some indications or some kind of border line kind of things to teams. But at the end of the day, it's up to the franchises and most importantly it's the players. They have to take care of their own body. They are all adults. So, they have to look after their body and adjust if they feel like it's getting a little too much, they can always talk about it and have a break in 1-2 games. I doubt that'll happen but," Rohit said after the end of the third ODI against Australia in Chennai as quoted by Cricbuzz.</p>

<p>These words have come on the back of the latest concerns regarding certain players who have missed extended amount of cricket due to&nbsp;injuries. While star seamer Jasprit Bumrah is out since September last year due to the back injury and is expected to spend more time on sidelines, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has also suffered the similar injury, and is ruled out for indefinite time. Just to put salt to injuries, keeper-batter Rishabh Pant is also not around – having suffered injuries in the road accident late last year.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-former-legend-advises-bizarre-record-holder-in-odis-suryakumar-yadav-following-latest-slump-574913">IND vs AUS: Former legend advises 'bizarre record-holder in ODIs' Suryakumar Yadav following latest slump</a></p>

<p>With all these absentees, India has missed out on several chances of playing their best XI in important matches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Look it is concerning because if the players are not available it is concerning. And we are missing players who are actually Playing XI players. They regularly play in the playing XI. Honestly, everyone is trying their best to get everyone on the park. We've been focussing a lot on management of the players a lot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Which is why you keep seeing, we have to rest certain players at certain points of time. From our side we could do our best in terms of handling them. I mean, I'm not a specialist to tell you why the recurring injuries are happening. Of course, the medical team of ours is definitely looking into all of this and making sure, that come the World Cup we've got our best 15 players ready," Rohit added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Initially, the board had also informed after discussing with the captain and the head coach, around 17-18 players are short-listed for the 50-over World Cup later this year; the franchises are made aware of the same and that they are now responsible for those players workload management.</p>

<p>The 16th season of IPL 2023 begins on March 31st.</p>


India's all-format captain Rohit Sharma said its up to the IPL franchises now to takecare of World Cup-bound players workload management. Following the Chennai ODI against Australia, all players will now wear their respective IPL kits as the 16th edition of the cash-rich league begins on March 31st.

India's all-format captain Rohit Sharma said its up to the IPL franchises now to takecare of World Cup-bound players workload management. Following the Chennai ODI against Australia, all players will now wear their respective IPL kits as the 16th edition of the cash-rich league begins on March 31st. Concerned about the crunch window of mere two weeks between the IPL 2023 final and the 2023 WTC final, Rohit said the board and the team management has already informed about the same to all the franchises, and now the ball is in their court. "It's all up to the franchise now. Franchises own them now. We've given them some indications or some kind of border line kind of things to teams. But at the end of the day, it's up to the franchises and most importantly it's the players. They have to take care of their own body. They are all adults. So, they have to look after their body and adjust if they feel like it's getting a little too much, they can always talk about it and have a break in 1-2 games. I doubt that'll happen but," Rohit said after the end of the third ODI against Australia in Chennai as quoted by Cricbuzz. These words have come on the back of the latest concerns regarding certain players who have missed extended amount of cricket due to injuries. While star seamer Jasprit Bumrah is out since September last year due to the back injury and is expected to spend more time on sidelines, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has also suffered the similar injury, and is ruled out for indefinite time. Just to put salt to injuries, keeper-batter Rishabh Pant is also not around – having suffered injuries in the road accident late last year. ALSO READ: IND vs AUS: Former legend advises 'bizarre record-holder in ODIs' Suryakumar Yadav following latest slump With all these absentees, India has missed out on several chances of playing their best XI in important matches. "Look it is concerning because if the players are not available it is concerning. And we are missing players who are actually Playing XI players. They regularly play in the playing XI. Honestly, everyone is trying their best to get everyone on the park. We've been focussing a lot on management of the players a lot. “Which is why you keep seeing, we have to rest certain players at certain points of time. From our side we could do our best in terms of handling them. I mean, I'm not a specialist to tell you why the recurring injuries are happening. Of course, the medical team of ours is definitely looking into all of this and making sure, that come the World Cup we've got our best 15 players ready," Rohit added. Initially, the board had also informed after discussing with the captain and the head coach, around 17-18 players are short-listed for the 50-over World Cup later this year; the franchises are made aware of the same and that they are now responsible for those players workload management. The 16th season of IPL 2023 begins on March 31st.

IPL franchises are the owners now, they will take the call - Rohit Sharma on players workload management

<p>Team India has dealt with several injury concerns of late. While Jasprit Bumrah remains out of action since last September, Rishabh Pant is recovering from his horrific car accident. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer complained of back issues during the fourth and final Test between India and Australia, in Ahmedabad, and is now likely to miss IPL 2023, ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, and ODI World Cup.</p>

<p>As per a report in India Today, sources have confirmed that Iyer has been advised of surgery in his third meeting with a Mumbai-based doctor. Thus, the middle-order batter&nbsp;is expected to remain out of action for at least five months; ruling him out of IPL 2023 edition,&nbsp;WTC finale in early June, and possibly skipping the ODI WC at home as well.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-king-virat-kohli-to-ms-dhonis-protege-rishabh-pant-most-runs-in-an-ipl-season-574365">From KING Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni's protégé, Rishabh Pant: Most runs in an IPL season</a></strong></p>

<p>The 28-year-old Iyer&nbsp;will be touch and go for the 2023 ODI WC. However, it will be highly unlikely that the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team management might consider the talented batter without playing him in the run-up to the showpiece event in the subcontinent.</p>

<p>Iyer was out of action due to injury concerns in the run-up to the 2021 T20 World Cup and even though he was included as a reserve, he didn't get a game. He didn't feature in a single game for Team India in the 2022 edition as well. Hence, if he is likely to miss the WTC final and the forthcoming 50-over WC, it will really be&nbsp;unfortunate for the youngster.</p>

<p>Moreover, the KKR franchise will also have to search for a new captain and batter as a replacement for Iyer. IPL 2023&nbsp;kicks off in less than ten days; on March 31 in Ahmedabad.</p>


Team India has dealt with several injury concerns of late. While Jasprit Bumrah remains out of action since last September, Rishabh Pant is recovering from his horrific car accident.

Team India has dealt with several injury concerns of late. While Jasprit Bumrah remains out of action since last September, Rishabh Pant is recovering from his horrific car accident. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer complained of back issues during the fourth and final Test between India and Australia, in Ahmedabad, and is now likely to miss IPL 2023, ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, and ODI World Cup. As per a report in India Today, sources have confirmed that Iyer has been advised of surgery in his third meeting with a Mumbai-based doctor. Thus, the middle-order batter is expected to remain out of action for at least five months; ruling him out of IPL 2023 edition, WTC finale in early June, and possibly skipping the ODI WC at home as well. Also Read: From KING Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni's protégé, Rishabh Pant: Most runs in an IPL season The 28-year-old Iyer will be touch and go for the 2023 ODI WC. However, it will be highly unlikely that the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led Indian team management might consider the talented batter without playing him in the run-up to the showpiece event in the subcontinent. Iyer was out of action due to injury concerns in the run-up to the 2021 T20 World Cup and even though he was included as a reserve, he didn't get a game. He didn't feature in a single game for Team India in the 2022 edition as well. Hence, if he is likely to miss the WTC final and the forthcoming 50-over WC, it will really be unfortunate for the youngster. Moreover, the KKR franchise will also have to search for a new captain and batter as a replacement for Iyer. IPL 2023 kicks off in less than ten days; on March 31 in Ahmedabad.

Big blow to Team India! Shreyas Iyer to undergo surgery, likely to skip IPL 2023, WTC final and ODI WC

<p>India entered the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final early this month and are set to face Australia in the title clash, set to be held at The Oval, London on June 07. Ever since India qualified for the summit clash, many felt the team management might include star all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the marquee clash with an ICC trophy at stake.</p>

<p>Hardik has not played a Test since India's tour of England in 2018, where he picked a five-fer. He has done reasonably well in the 11 Tests and even has a hundred to his name. Nonetheless, due to his back issues, Hardik hasn't been risked by the Indian team management in all formats and only features in white-ball cricket of late.</p>

<p>When he was asked if he will return in the Test arena for the WTC final, Hardik told reporters ahead of the India-Australia ODIs, "No. I am ethically very strong person. I haven’t done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of 1%. So me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well. If I want to play Test cricket, I’ll go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future test series until I feel that I have earned my spot."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashwin-lauds-kl-rahul-for-doing-very-difficult-role-with-ease-compares-him-with-ms-dhoni-yuvraj-singh-574649">Ashwin lauds KL Rahul for 'doing very difficult role with ease', compares him with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh</a></strong></p>

<p>Now, veteran Indian off-spinner R Ashwin has lauded Hardik for his take on a possible Test return during the WTC final. Ashwin hailed the all-rounder and said it is a 'proper statement to the cricket fraternity and to the entire world by Hardik'.</p>

<p>"We have reached the WTC final and many felt that Hardik Pandya must return to the Test side. Of course, those opinions were great since Hardik has done well in England with the limited Tests he has played there. But Hardik has said that it won't do justice and, 'I will come back when I feel it's the right time to play Test cricket and I haven't even played one percent role in qualifying for the finals'. This is a proper statement to the cricket fraternity and to the entire world by Hardik Pandya," Ashwin said on his Youtube channel.</p>

<p>He added, "We often tend to blame others for our failures. We believe in superstitions or find other reasons because at the end of the day we are disappointed. But Hardik has accepted that he isn't eligible to play Test at the moment. That is a big statement coming from a player- like him. Hats off to Hardik Pandya."</p>

<p>“Why am I hyping this so much about Hardik? Well, because he led us in Rohit Sharma's absence in the first ODI against Australia. Many has praised saying that he doesn't back down from a challenge. Australia were on course for a huge total. But Hardik played a role in bringing back Siraj and Shami even after the spinners took two wickets because he felt there was something in the wicket for the pacers. To get a team all out for 188 from 155 for three is phenomenal achievement by India,” Ashwin concluded.</p>

<p>Hardik has played 11&nbsp;Tests, scoring&nbsp;532 runs -- with a hundred and four fifties -- along with claiming 17 wickets.</p>


India entered the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final early this month and are set to face Australia in the title clash, set to be held at The Oval, London on June 07.

India entered the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final early this month and are set to face Australia in the title clash, set to be held at The Oval, London on June 07. Ever since India qualified for the summit clash, many felt the team management might include star all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the marquee clash with an ICC trophy at stake. Hardik has not played a Test since India's tour of England in 2018, where he picked a five-fer. He has done reasonably well in the 11 Tests and even has a hundred to his name. Nonetheless, due to his back issues, Hardik hasn't been risked by the Indian team management in all formats and only features in white-ball cricket of late. When he was asked if he will return in the Test arena for the WTC final, Hardik told reporters ahead of the India-Australia ODIs, "No. I am ethically very strong person. I haven’t done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of 1%. So me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well. If I want to play Test cricket, I’ll go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future test series until I feel that I have earned my spot." Also Read: Ashwin lauds KL Rahul for 'doing very difficult role with ease', compares him with MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh Now, veteran Indian off-spinner R Ashwin has lauded Hardik for his take on a possible Test return during the WTC final. Ashwin hailed the all-rounder and said it is a 'proper statement to the cricket fraternity and to the entire world by Hardik'. "We have reached the WTC final and many felt that Hardik Pandya must return to the Test side. Of course, those opinions were great since Hardik has done well in England with the limited Tests he has played there. But Hardik has said that it won't do justice and, 'I will come back when I feel it's the right time to play Test cricket and I haven't even played one percent role in qualifying for the finals'. This is a proper statement to the cricket fraternity and to the entire world by Hardik Pandya," Ashwin said on his Youtube channel. He added, "We often tend to blame others for our failures. We believe in superstitions or find other reasons because at the end of the day we are disappointed. But Hardik has accepted that he isn't eligible to play Test at the moment. That is a big statement coming from a player- like him. Hats off to Hardik Pandya." “Why am I hyping this so much about Hardik? Well, because he led us in Rohit Sharma's absence in the first ODI against Australia. Many has praised saying that he doesn't back down from a challenge. Australia were on course for a huge total. But Hardik played a role in bringing back Siraj and Shami even after the spinners took two wickets because he felt there was something in the wicket for the pacers. To get a team all out for 188 from 155 for three is phenomenal achievement by India,” Ashwin concluded. Hardik has played 11 Tests, scoring 532 runs -- with a hundred and four fifties -- along with claiming 17 wickets.

This is a proper statement: R Ashwin lauds Hardik Pandya for his remark on Test return during WTC final

<p>India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the second time in a row early this month. As India have not won an ICC title since 2013, they will be desperate to break their ten-year drought during the upcoming WTC finale, versus Australia, at The Oval, London. The finale kicks off on June 07 and is expected to go down to the wire.</p>

<p>In 2021, India locked horns with New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final and lost by eight wickets with many blaming the then Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-led think tank for not choosing the ideal XI. Thus, Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid will be focused on choosing the right XI this time around as India look to win the elite championship. Ahead of the WTC summit clash, many feel it would be right to pick KL Rahul, who has been out of form in whites, for his good record in English conditions and he can also keep wickets. But some are of the opinion that KS Bharat remains the best bet behind the stumps in Rishabh Pant's absence.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-this-uncapped-mi-all-rounder-to-earn-more-than-his-skipper-rohit-sharma-in-mega-event-573831">IPL 2023: THIS uncapped MI all-rounder to earn more than his skipper Rohit Sharma in mega event</a></strong></p>

<p>While former cricketers Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar have backed Rahul as a wicketkeeper-batter for the WTC final, Rahul's IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s mentor and ex-Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels Bharat should retain his place.</p>

<p>"You should always go with a specialist wicketkeeper. England is a tough place to keep, where you can’t go with a part-time wicketkeeper," Gambhir told&nbsp;<em>Sports Tak.&nbsp;</em>He added, "If you want to pick KL Rahul for the WTC final, then play him purely as a batsman."</p>

<section>At present, India is involved in the three-match ODI series versus Australia with the series levelled at 1-1. The third and final ODI will be held in Chennai before the IPL 2023 edition kicks off. After the IPL final, the WTC finale will be held on June 07.</section>


India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the second time in a row early this month. As India have not won an ICC title since 2013, they will be desperate to break their ten-year drought during the upcoming WTC finale, versus Australia, at The Oval, London.

India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the second time in a row early this month. As India have not won an ICC title since 2013, they will be desperate to break their ten-year drought during the upcoming WTC finale, versus Australia, at The Oval, London. The finale kicks off on June 07 and is expected to go down to the wire. In 2021, India locked horns with New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final and lost by eight wickets with many blaming the then Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-led think tank for not choosing the ideal XI. Thus, Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid will be focused on choosing the right XI this time around as India look to win the elite championship. Ahead of the WTC summit clash, many feel it would be right to pick KL Rahul, who has been out of form in whites, for his good record in English conditions and he can also keep wickets. But some are of the opinion that KS Bharat remains the best bet behind the stumps in Rishabh Pant's absence. Also read: IPL 2023: THIS uncapped MI all-rounder to earn more than his skipper Rohit Sharma in mega event While former cricketers Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar have backed Rahul as a wicketkeeper-batter for the WTC final, Rahul's IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s mentor and ex-Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels Bharat should retain his place. "You should always go with a specialist wicketkeeper. England is a tough place to keep, where you can’t go with a part-time wicketkeeper," Gambhir told Sports Tak. He added, "If you want to pick KL Rahul for the WTC final, then play him purely as a batsman." At present, India is involved in the three-match ODI series versus Australia with the series levelled at 1-1. The third and final ODI will be held in Chennai before the IPL 2023 edition kicks off. After the IPL final, the WTC finale will be held on June 07.

KL Rahul or KS Bharat? Gautam Gambhir on who should keep wickets for India in WTC final vs Australia

<p>Former India great Sachin Tendulkar, while speaking at a program, has suggested that India should pick their squad as per the conditions for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.</p>

<p>The WTC Final will be played in England from June 7-11 and the English conditions are known to be supportive to fast bowlers unlike India's spin-conducive pitches. Sachin, keeping the conditions in mind, said one has to understand the condition and pick the squad accordingly.</p>

<p>“In Test cricket, you will have to understand conditions for the next five days and pick the squad accordingly. We have played well and we have a good team, a balanced team. It would be slightly challenging for a captain to have extra spinners in the team to get the balance right. I am only thinking from India’s point of view, let Australians do what they want to do. We stand a very good chance,” he said at India Today Conclave.</p>

<p><strong>Also Watch:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-2nd-odi-horror-for-suryakumar-yadav-as-mitchell-starc-again-traps-him-lbw-on-first-ball-watch-573564">Ind vs Aus, 2nd ODI: HORROR for Suryakumar Yadav as Mitchell Starc again traps him LBW on first ball</a></p>

<p>India, who are in the WTC final for the second consecutive time, would be wary of English pitches after losing the first time against New Zealand.</p>

<p>India, however, will be without their frontline pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out of the game itself after undergoing back surgery. In Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Umran Malik, India do posses enough firepower in the bowling department though.</p>

<p>The worries although don't end here for India as their star wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant is also recuperating after a freak car accident is unlikely to play a part in the WTC Final.</p>

<p>Former India players Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar, however, want out of favour batsman KL Rahul to handle the dual responsibilities of wicket-keeper and batsman instead of Pant's replacement KS Bharat who recently did the duty behind the wickets in the Border-Gavaskar trophy.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<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 great Sachin Tendulkar, while speaking at a program, has suggested that India should pick their squad as per the conditions for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.

Former India great Sachin Tendulkar, while speaking at a program, has suggested that India should pick their squad as per the conditions for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. The WTC Final will be played in England from June 7-11 and the English conditions are known to be supportive to fast bowlers unlike India's spin-conducive pitches. Sachin, keeping the conditions in mind, said one has to understand the condition and pick the squad accordingly. “In Test cricket, you will have to understand conditions for the next five days and pick the squad accordingly. We have played well and we have a good team, a balanced team. It would be slightly challenging for a captain to have extra spinners in the team to get the balance right. I am only thinking from India’s point of view, let Australians do what they want to do. We stand a very good chance,” he said at India Today Conclave. Also Watch: Ind vs Aus, 2nd ODI: HORROR for Suryakumar Yadav as Mitchell Starc again traps him LBW on first ball India, who are in the WTC final for the second consecutive time, would be wary of English pitches after losing the first time against New Zealand. India, however, will be without their frontline pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out of the game itself after undergoing back surgery. In Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Umran Malik, India do posses enough firepower in the bowling department though. The worries although don't end here for India as their star wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant is also recuperating after a freak car accident is unlikely to play a part in the WTC Final. Former India players Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar, however, want out of favour batsman KL Rahul to handle the dual responsibilities of wicket-keeper and batsman instead of Pant's replacement KS Bharat who recently did the duty behind the wickets in the Border-Gavaskar trophy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WTC Final, 2023: Sachin Tendulkar shares his views on selecting playing XI against Australia

<p>India's star batsman Virat Kohli is back in form and in time too as India face Australia in the much-awaited World Test Championship (WTC) final in June in England before heading into ICC World Cup at home later this year. Kohli's form is always a big plus for India, especially in ODIs as he chases Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI tons. Kohli, currently sits at 46 of them - second in the list.</p>

<p>Speaking on Kohli form, former India batsman Suresh Raina, told media outlet Sports Yaari, "He is in great form, has maintained his fitness very well. Played very well in the last Test match."</p>

<p>Raina also backed Kohli to break Sachin's record of 100 centuries in the international cricket. Kohli currently has 75 international tons - 28 in Tests, 46 in ODIs and one in T20Is.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-harmanpreet-kaur-plucks-one-handed-screamer-in-slips-to-dismiss-devika-vaidya-watch-573366">WPL 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur plucks one-handed SCREAMER in slips to dismiss Devika Vaidya - Watch</a></p>

<p>“He has always been in form and now he is scoring centuries. That's why they say that we should visit the Mahakaleshwar temple, performances will come. For sure he will get top 100 centuries,” said Raina while jokingly referring to Virat's recent visit to the aforementioned temple with his wife.</p>

<p>Talking about WTC final, Raina said it would be interesting to see how Kohli fares in England as he has been playing on too many turning tracks.</p>

<p>“I think he was playing on too many turning tracks. It will be fun to see him bat in the WTC final. Virat is a champion, has given India performances at crucial times. Now with the World Cup coming it is important for him to keep maintain this form,” Raina added.</p>

<p>Kohli, however, has two more chances in the upcoming days to reach closer to Sachin's ODI century record in the ongoing ODI series against Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India won the first ODI by five wickets with Kohli only scoring four on a spicy Mumbai pitch. The next match is scheduled to be played in Vishakhapatnam on March 19 and Kohli, who has 5362 runs at home, will have shot to surpass Ricky Pointing's total of 5,406 runs at home in ODIs.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<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>


India's star batsman Virat Kohli is back in form and in time too as India face Australia in the much-awaited World Test Championship (WTC) final in June in England before heading into ICC World Cup at home later this year.

India's star batsman Virat Kohli is back in form and in time too as India face Australia in the much-awaited World Test Championship (WTC) final in June in England before heading into ICC World Cup at home later this year. Kohli's form is always a big plus for India, especially in ODIs as he chases Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI tons. Kohli, currently sits at 46 of them - second in the list. Speaking on Kohli form, former India batsman Suresh Raina, told media outlet Sports Yaari, "He is in great form, has maintained his fitness very well. Played very well in the last Test match." Raina also backed Kohli to break Sachin's record of 100 centuries in the international cricket. Kohli currently has 75 international tons - 28 in Tests, 46 in ODIs and one in T20Is. Also Read: WPL 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur plucks one-handed SCREAMER in slips to dismiss Devika Vaidya - Watch “He has always been in form and now he is scoring centuries. That's why they say that we should visit the Mahakaleshwar temple, performances will come. For sure he will get top 100 centuries,” said Raina while jokingly referring to Virat's recent visit to the aforementioned temple with his wife. Talking about WTC final, Raina said it would be interesting to see how Kohli fares in England as he has been playing on too many turning tracks. “I think he was playing on too many turning tracks. It will be fun to see him bat in the WTC final. Virat is a champion, has given India performances at crucial times. Now with the World Cup coming it is important for him to keep maintain this form,” Raina added. Kohli, however, has two more chances in the upcoming days to reach closer to Sachin's ODI century record in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. India won the first ODI by five wickets with Kohli only scoring four on a spicy Mumbai pitch. The next match is scheduled to be played in Vishakhapatnam on March 19 and Kohli, who has 5362 runs at home, will have shot to surpass Ricky Pointing's total of 5,406 runs at home in ODIs. 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.

"Important for him to...": Suresh Raina's message to Virat Kohli ahead of WTC final and ODI World Cup

<p>Former India coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that India must&nbsp;include&nbsp;KL Rahul in the XI for the WTC final against Australia. With Rishabh Pant out recovering from the injury he sustained following the road accident last year and KS Bharat underperforming with the bat, Shastri thinks bringing Rahul to bat in the middle order and keep wickets will only bolster team's chances of doing well in the one-off final.</p>

<p>After India’s five-wicket win over Australia in the first ODI in Mumbai on Friday, in which KL Rahul starred with the bat hitting an unbeaten 75, Shastri feels Rahul’s maturity to handle pressure and ability to keep wickets will keep the selectors interested.</p>

<p>“He (KL) has really done well to keep the selectors interested ahead of the WTC final," Shastri told Star Sports after India’s win in 1st ODI.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/arshdeep-singh-agrees-to-play-five-matches-for-kent-in-county-championship-573196">Arshdeep Singh agrees to play five matches for Kent in County Championship</a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, KL Rahul faced a contrasting fate during the Border-Gavaskar series as he got dropped after three successive failures during the first two Tests. His chances of now returning to the top look bleak given Shubman Gill has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. On the flip side, Shreyas Iyer’s history with prolonged back injury would keep the selectors thinking before naming the final squad as well.</p>

<p>As Rohit Sharma will replace Ishan Kishan in the XI for the remaining two ODIs, and in that scenario, Rahul will continue keeping wickets;&nbsp;Shastri feels why couldn't the same formula be applied during the WTC final as well. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Two things, one for the ODI series when Rohit Sharma returns and the other for the WTC final... India can bolster their batting if Rahul can keep wickets,” Shastri said.</p>

<p>Elaborating on how Rahul can tick both boxes in the final against Australia, Shastri said,</p>

<p>"Rahul can bat in the middle-order -- No. 5 or 6. In England, you have to generally keep wickets from far behind. You don't have to keep up with the spinners a lot. He (KL) has two more ODIs to go before the IPL. He can cement his place in that Indian team," the former India coach added.</p>

<p>India will now face Australia in the second ODI in Vizag on March 19th, Sunday.</p>


Former India coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that India must include KL Rahul in the XI for the WTC final against Australia. With Rishabh Pant out recovering from the injury he sustained following the road accident last year and KS Bharat underperforming with the bat, Shastri thinks bringing Rahul to bat in the middle order and keep wickets will only bolster team's chances of doing well in the one-off final.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that India must include KL Rahul in the XI for the WTC final against Australia. With Rishabh Pant out recovering from the injury he sustained following the road accident last year and KS Bharat underperforming with the bat, Shastri thinks bringing Rahul to bat in the middle order and keep wickets will only bolster team's chances of doing well in the one-off final. After India’s five-wicket win over Australia in the first ODI in Mumbai on Friday, in which KL Rahul starred with the bat hitting an unbeaten 75, Shastri feels Rahul’s maturity to handle pressure and ability to keep wickets will keep the selectors interested. “He (KL) has really done well to keep the selectors interested ahead of the WTC final," Shastri told Star Sports after India’s win in 1st ODI. ALSO READ: Arshdeep Singh agrees to play five matches for Kent in County Championship Meanwhile, KL Rahul faced a contrasting fate during the Border-Gavaskar series as he got dropped after three successive failures during the first two Tests. His chances of now returning to the top look bleak given Shubman Gill has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. On the flip side, Shreyas Iyer’s history with prolonged back injury would keep the selectors thinking before naming the final squad as well. As Rohit Sharma will replace Ishan Kishan in the XI for the remaining two ODIs, and in that scenario, Rahul will continue keeping wickets; Shastri feels why couldn't the same formula be applied during the WTC final as well. "Two things, one for the ODI series when Rohit Sharma returns and the other for the WTC final... India can bolster their batting if Rahul can keep wickets,” Shastri said. Elaborating on how Rahul can tick both boxes in the final against Australia, Shastri said, "Rahul can bat in the middle-order -- No. 5 or 6. In England, you have to generally keep wickets from far behind. You don't have to keep up with the spinners a lot. He (KL) has two more ODIs to go before the IPL. He can cement his place in that Indian team," the former India coach added. India will now face Australia in the second ODI in Vizag on March 19th, Sunday.

Ravi Shastri picks a new face to keep wickets in WTC final against Australia

<p>Rishabh Pant has been out of cricketing action ever since he was involved in a horrific car accident on December 30, 2022. The star wicketkeeper-batter sustained several injuries following a near-fatal car accident, which took place in the early hours on December 30 in Dehradun-Delhi highway. Since then, the 25-year-old is on recovery mode and keeps sharing updates of his progress for is fans worldwide.</p>

<p>On Wednesday (March 15), Pant took to his official Twitter handle where he shared a video of him walking in a pool. "Grateful for small things, big things, And everything in between," he wrote. Here's the clip:</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Grateful for small thing, big things and everything in between. 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RP17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RP17</a> <a href="https://t.co/NE9Do72Thr">pic.twitter.com/NE9Do72Thr</a></p>
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishabhPant17/status/1635961020773552133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ms-dhonis-no-look-big-hit-at-the-csk-nets-goes-viral-ahead-of-ipl-2023-572299">WATCH: MS Dhoni's NO-LOOK big hit at the CSK nets goes viral ahead of IPL 2023</a></strong></p>

<p>Earlier, Pant had also provided an update on his surgery pertaining to a ligament tear. "I am humbled and grateful for all the support and good wishes," Pant wrote on Twitter. "I am glad to let you know that my surgery was a success. The road to recovery has begun and I am ready for the challenges ahead. Thank you to the @BCCI, @JayShah &amp; government authorities for their incredible support."</p>

<p>He further added, "From the bottom of my heart, I also would like to thank all my fans, teammates, doctors and the physios for your kind words and encouragement. Looking forward to seeing you all on the field."</p>

<p>Pant missed the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, held in India, where Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. defeated Australia 2-1. Hence, both sides have now qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be held early June. Pant will miss IPL 2023, WTC finale and possibly the 2023 ODI World Cup as well.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Rishabh Pant has been out of cricketing action ever since he was involved in a horrific car accident on December 30, 2022. The star wicketkeeper-batter sustained several injuries following a near-fatal car accident, which took place in the early hours on December 30 in Dehradun-Delhi highway.

Rishabh Pant has been out of cricketing action ever since he was involved in a horrific car accident on December 30, 2022. The star wicketkeeper-batter sustained several injuries following a near-fatal car accident, which took place in the early hours on December 30 in Dehradun-Delhi highway. Since then, the 25-year-old is on recovery mode and keeps sharing updates of his progress for is fans worldwide. On Wednesday (March 15), Pant took to his official Twitter handle where he shared a video of him walking in a pool. "Grateful for small things, big things, And everything in between," he wrote. Here's the clip: Grateful for small thing, big things and everything in between. 🙏#RP17 pic.twitter.com/NE9Do72Thr — Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) March 15, 2023 × Also Read: WATCH: MS Dhoni's NO-LOOK big hit at the CSK nets goes viral ahead of IPL 2023 Earlier, Pant had also provided an update on his surgery pertaining to a ligament tear. "I am humbled and grateful for all the support and good wishes," Pant wrote on Twitter. "I am glad to let you know that my surgery was a success. The road to recovery has begun and I am ready for the challenges ahead. Thank you to the @BCCI, @JayShah & government authorities for their incredible support." He further added, "From the bottom of my heart, I also would like to thank all my fans, teammates, doctors and the physios for your kind words and encouragement. Looking forward to seeing you all on the field." Pant missed the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, held in India, where Rohit Sharma & Co. defeated Australia 2-1. Hence, both sides have now qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be held early June. Pant will miss IPL 2023, WTC finale and possibly the 2023 ODI World Cup as well. ×

Rishabh Pant's recovery process kicks off with walk in the pool as HEARTFELT video goes viral - WATCH

<p>Batting great Sachin Tendulkar feels India will have a chance to win the World Test Championship final against Australia in England later this year. Having missed out on winning it on the previous occasion against New Zealand a couple of years back, India will want to change that equation this time.</p>

<p>Speaking exclusively at the India Today Conclave, Sachin said India have played well and have a balanced team this time too. But they have to be wary of outside factors like overhead conditions before picking the right XI for the one-off final.</p>

<p>“We have played well and we have a good team, a balanced team. In those conditions, you have to see the overhead conditions and then also, the forecast comes into play. In Test cricket, you will have to understand conditions for the next five days and pick the squad accordingly,” Sachin said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-underlines-the-reason-why-odis-are-getting-monotonous-and-boring-comes-up-with-a-solution-572946">Sachin Tendulkar underlines the reason why ODIs are getting monotonous and boring, comes up with a solution</a></p>

<p>Even during the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand, India played two spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin - and instead compromised on a batter in Hanuma Vihari, which eventually cost them as they lost the match by eight wickets. Commenting on the same, Sachin said for Rohit, it would challenging to fit in both the spinners in the XI, looking at their recent exploits.</p>

<p>“It would be slightly challenging for a captain to have extra spinners in the team to get the balance right. I am only thinking from India’s point of view, let Australians do what they want to do. We stand a very good chance,” the Master Blaster added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Australia was the first team to qualify for the WTC finals after beating India in the third Test in Indore by nine wickets. For India to qualify, they had to beat Australia in the final Test else they needed New Zealand to either win one of the two Tests or at least play a draw against Sri Lanka. Much to the delight of the Indian cricket fans, the second scenario happened as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in the first Test by two wickets.</p>

<p>The 2023 WTC final will now take place at the Oval in London on June 7th.</p>


Batting great Sachin Tendulkar feels India will have a chance to win the World Test Championship final against Australia in England later this year. Having missed out on winning it on the previous occasion against New Zealand a couple of years back, India will want to change that equation this time.

Batting great Sachin Tendulkar feels India will have a chance to win the World Test Championship final against Australia in England later this year. Having missed out on winning it on the previous occasion against New Zealand a couple of years back, India will want to change that equation this time. Speaking exclusively at the India Today Conclave, Sachin said India have played well and have a balanced team this time too. But they have to be wary of outside factors like overhead conditions before picking the right XI for the one-off final. “We have played well and we have a good team, a balanced team. In those conditions, you have to see the overhead conditions and then also, the forecast comes into play. In Test cricket, you will have to understand conditions for the next five days and pick the squad accordingly,” Sachin said. ALSO READ: Sachin Tendulkar underlines the reason why ODIs are getting monotonous and boring, comes up with a solution Even during the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand, India played two spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin - and instead compromised on a batter in Hanuma Vihari, which eventually cost them as they lost the match by eight wickets. Commenting on the same, Sachin said for Rohit, it would challenging to fit in both the spinners in the XI, looking at their recent exploits. “It would be slightly challenging for a captain to have extra spinners in the team to get the balance right. I am only thinking from India’s point of view, let Australians do what they want to do. We stand a very good chance,” the Master Blaster added. Meanwhile, Australia was the first team to qualify for the WTC finals after beating India in the third Test in Indore by nine wickets. For India to qualify, they had to beat Australia in the final Test else they needed New Zealand to either win one of the two Tests or at least play a draw against Sri Lanka. Much to the delight of the Indian cricket fans, the second scenario happened as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in the first Test by two wickets. The 2023 WTC final will now take place at the Oval in London on June 7th.

Balancing the spinners in XI for WTC final would be challenging for Rohit Sharma, feels Sachin Tendulkar

<p>Stand-in skipper for the first ODI between India and Australia, Hardik Pandya has commented on his Test future with the side as his side prepares for the big clash against the visitors. Hardik, who has not played in the red-ball format for India since 2018 has ruled himself out of the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June. India qualified for the showpiece final after Sri Lanka’s defeat to New Zealand while India beat Australia 2-1 in the Test series.</p>

<h3><strong>Hardik rules out of WTC final</strong></h3>

<p>"No. I am an ethically very strong person. I haven't done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of 1%. So me coming there and taking someone's place will ethically not go well," Hardik said in the pre-match press conference.</p>

<p>"If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future test series until I feel that I have earned my spot," he added.</p>

<p>India will have a big task in their hand as they take on the Aussies in the limited-overs format as both sides will be without their regular skipper. Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins both will miss the opening game of the three-match ODI series for different reasons. A win for India in the ODI series will complete a unique whitewash as they have previously won the T20I series (before T20 World Cup) and the Test series.</p>

<h3><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-virat-kohlis-pep-talk-with-smriti-mandhanas-rcb-goes-viral-ahead-of-their-first-win-watch-572524">WPL 2023: Virat Kohli's pep talk with Smriti Mandhana's RCB goes viral ahead of their first win - Watch</a></strong></h3>

<h3><strong>India get ready for ODI series</strong></h3>

<p>"We have to have an amount of faith in our S&amp;Cs (Strength and Conditioning). I am a guy who trusts his team. These calls of workload, who should play when, who should not play that is completely on guys who are professionals and it is their call," he added.</p>

<p>The first of the three-match of the ODI series will take place at the Wankhede Stadium where India have not won an ODI match since October 2011. On the flip side, eyes will be on the performances of Virat Kohli who will eye a set of records in the series. He needs 191 runs to complete 13000 ODI runs and will look to get closer to Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds as well as he currently stands with 46 tons.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<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>


Stand-in skipper for the first ODI between India and Australia, Hardik Pandya has commented on his Test future with the side as his side prepares for the big clash against the visitors.

Stand-in skipper for the first ODI between India and Australia, Hardik Pandya has commented on his Test future with the side as his side prepares for the big clash against the visitors. Hardik, who has not played in the red-ball format for India since 2018 has ruled himself out of the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June. India qualified for the showpiece final after Sri Lanka’s defeat to New Zealand while India beat Australia 2-1 in the Test series. Hardik rules out of WTC final "No. I am an ethically very strong person. I haven't done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of 1%. So me coming there and taking someone's place will ethically not go well," Hardik said in the pre-match press conference. "If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future test series until I feel that I have earned my spot," he added. India will have a big task in their hand as they take on the Aussies in the limited-overs format as both sides will be without their regular skipper. Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins both will miss the opening game of the three-match ODI series for different reasons. A win for India in the ODI series will complete a unique whitewash as they have previously won the T20I series (before T20 World Cup) and the Test series. ALSO READ | WPL 2023: Virat Kohli's pep talk with Smriti Mandhana's RCB goes viral ahead of their first win - Watch India get ready for ODI series "We have to have an amount of faith in our S&Cs (Strength and Conditioning). I am a guy who trusts his team. These calls of workload, who should play when, who should not play that is completely on guys who are professionals and it is their call," he added. The first of the three-match of the ODI series will take place at the Wankhede Stadium where India have not won an ODI match since October 2011. On the flip side, eyes will be on the performances of Virat Kohli who will eye a set of records in the series. He needs 191 runs to complete 13000 ODI runs and will look to get closer to Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds as well as he currently stands with 46 tons. 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.

IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Hardik Pandya shades light on Test future, says 'I won't be available for the WTC final'

<p>India and Australia are set to face each in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June in England after both teams secured a spot for the marquee clash during the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series. India were without Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant but managed to win the series 2-1.</p>

<p>With both Bumrah and Pant sidelined for the WTC final too due to injuries, former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar wants India to consider KL Rahul as wicket-keeper over Pant's replacement KS Bharat. Notably, Rahul was dropped in the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series following a string of low scores.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to media outlet&nbsp;Sports Tak, Gavaskar said, "You can see KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper. If he bats at No. 5 or 6 at the Oval (in the WTC final) then our batting will be stronger. Because he batted really well in England last year. He scored a century at the Lord's. Keep KL Rahul in mind when you pick your XI for the WTC final."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-his-pure-best-former-aussie-batsman-mark-waugh-after-virat-kohlis-28th-test-century-571869">'Not his pure best': Former Aussie batsman Mark Waugh after Virat Kohli's 28th Test century</a></p>

<p>Gavaskar suggested the change after Dinesh Karthik highlighted issues in KS Bharat's technique on air during the Ahmedabad Test between India and Australia.</p>

<p>"Dinesh Karthik summed up the problems with his wicketkeeping quite beautifully. The real test of a wicketkeeper is on pitches like these where the ball is turning. If you look at Travis Head's dismissal, when the ball turned and hit his stumps, KS Bharat's gloves were nowhere near the ball. That means, if the ball hadn't hit the stumps, it would have resulted in 4 byes. This is definitely a cause for concern. Whether they will select him in the XI or not is up to the selection committee but in England, you won't get pitches where the keeper has to stand up to the stumps. In that case, you can pick KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper and even Ishan Kishan can be considered. Their batting is better than Bharat's," Gavaskar said.</p>

<p>Rahul was also removed as the vice-captain of the side and Shubman Gill was roped in for the last two Tests as a batter. Gill made an immediate impact at the top and scored a century in India's first innings in the last Test.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<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>


India and Australia are set to face each in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June in England after both teams secured a spot for the marquee clash during the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series.

India and Australia are set to face each in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June in England after both teams secured a spot for the marquee clash during the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series. India were without Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant but managed to win the series 2-1. With both Bumrah and Pant sidelined for the WTC final too due to injuries, former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar wants India to consider KL Rahul as wicket-keeper over Pant's replacement KS Bharat. Notably, Rahul was dropped in the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series following a string of low scores. Speaking to media outlet Sports Tak, Gavaskar said, "You can see KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper. If he bats at No. 5 or 6 at the Oval (in the WTC final) then our batting will be stronger. Because he batted really well in England last year. He scored a century at the Lord's. Keep KL Rahul in mind when you pick your XI for the WTC final." Also Read: 'Not his pure best': Former Aussie batsman Mark Waugh after Virat Kohli's 28th Test century Gavaskar suggested the change after Dinesh Karthik highlighted issues in KS Bharat's technique on air during the Ahmedabad Test between India and Australia. "Dinesh Karthik summed up the problems with his wicketkeeping quite beautifully. The real test of a wicketkeeper is on pitches like these where the ball is turning. If you look at Travis Head's dismissal, when the ball turned and hit his stumps, KS Bharat's gloves were nowhere near the ball. That means, if the ball hadn't hit the stumps, it would have resulted in 4 byes. This is definitely a cause for concern. Whether they will select him in the XI or not is up to the selection committee but in England, you won't get pitches where the keeper has to stand up to the stumps. In that case, you can pick KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper and even Ishan Kishan can be considered. Their batting is better than Bharat's," Gavaskar said. Rahul was also removed as the vice-captain of the side and Shubman Gill was roped in for the last two Tests as a batter. Gill made an immediate impact at the top and scored a century in India's first innings in the last Test. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WTC Final, 2023: Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar wants THIS batsman to replace KS Bharat as wicket-keeper

<p>Australia's Steve Smith, who acted as the stand-in captain for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, has given a subdued warning to India, against whom the Aussies will play in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in England in June.</p>

<p>Speaking after the Ahmedabad Test at the press conference, Smith said, "There's usually reasonable bounce and pace for an English wicket. It's probably as close as you get to Australia potentially in terms of pace and bounce. So yeah, it's going to be a great Test match and the guys are looking forward to it."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/to-who-ever-stole-england-test-captain-ben-stokes-loses-his-cool-after-unfortunate-incident-see-post-571793">'To who ever stole...': England Test captain Ben Stokes loses cool after an unfortunate incident - see post</a></p>

<p>The match will be played at the Oval and Smith said that it wears on as the game progresses but is a great place to play cricket.</p>

<p>"You know, the Oval, the wicket there can take some spin at times, particularly as the game wears on. So could be interesting in terms of what what sort of wicket we get. But, you know, it's a great place to play cricket."</p>

<p>Australia made into the WTC final with surety after winning the Indore Test, the third of the four-match Border-Gavaskar series, by nine wickets. India, who had won the first Two Tests of the series in Nagpur and Delhi, respectively, made into the final only after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in a thrilling Test match on the last ball by two wickets.</p>

<p>India had to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a 3-0 or 3-1 margin to stay independent of the outcome of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fourth Test in Ahmedabad, however, was headed for a draw soon after the first session on the final day. After scoring 480 runs in the first innings, Australia conceded a 91-run lead after India scored 571/9.</p>

<p>Australia, however, didn't give any early wickets to India in the second innings and the match was called a draw with the visitors being at 175/2 in the third session.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<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>


Australia's Steve Smith, who acted as the stand-in captain for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, has given a subdued warning to India, against whom the Aussies will play in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in England in June.

Australia's Steve Smith, who acted as the stand-in captain for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, has given a subdued warning to India, against whom the Aussies will play in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in England in June. Speaking after the Ahmedabad Test at the press conference, Smith said, "There's usually reasonable bounce and pace for an English wicket. It's probably as close as you get to Australia potentially in terms of pace and bounce. So yeah, it's going to be a great Test match and the guys are looking forward to it." Also Read: 'To who ever stole...': England Test captain Ben Stokes loses cool after an unfortunate incident - see post The match will be played at the Oval and Smith said that it wears on as the game progresses but is a great place to play cricket. "You know, the Oval, the wicket there can take some spin at times, particularly as the game wears on. So could be interesting in terms of what what sort of wicket we get. But, you know, it's a great place to play cricket." Australia made into the WTC final with surety after winning the Indore Test, the third of the four-match Border-Gavaskar series, by nine wickets. India, who had won the first Two Tests of the series in Nagpur and Delhi, respectively, made into the final only after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in a thrilling Test match on the last ball by two wickets. India had to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a 3-0 or 3-1 margin to stay independent of the outcome of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test. The fourth Test in Ahmedabad, however, was headed for a draw soon after the first session on the final day. After scoring 480 runs in the first innings, Australia conceded a 91-run lead after India scored 571/9. Australia, however, didn't give any early wickets to India in the second innings and the match was called a draw with the visitors being at 175/2 in the third session. 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.

'Looking forward to...': Australia's Steve Smith issues warning to India ahead of WTC 2023 final at the Oval

<p>Cricket fans in India are curious to know whether team India will be able to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final as the fourth and final Test match between India and Australia trudges towards a draw. Well, we will be looking at India’s WTC final qualification scenario as New Zealand and Sri Lanka battle it out in the first Test match of the two-match series in Christchurch. A draw for India in the 4th Test would mean that India will require Sri Lanka to lose at least 1 match against the hosts New Zealand to keep its WTC campaign alive.</p>

<h2><strong>India’s qualification for the WTC final confirmed now</strong></h2>

<p>The final results for Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test match are out, where hosts New Zealand have prevailed upon the visitors. Sri Lanka had to win the ongoing Test series 2-0 in order to keep their WTC final campaign up and running. However, their defeat against New Zealand in the first Test match means that India can qualify for the WTC final even after ending the last Test match against Australia in a draw.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the case of a 2-0 series whitewash against New Zealand, Sri Lanka would have overtaken India in the WTC points table and moved up to second place with a PCT of 61.0. But that will not happen now. And India will maintain its second position on the WTC points table even after ending the ongoing Test series against Australia at 2-1.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs AUS in WTC 2023 final&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>With a PCT of 69+, Australia now holds the first slot in the WTC points rankings. It has already qualified for WTC final by securing the first position in WTC points table after defeating India in the third Test match. Now, After Sri Lanka’s loss against New Zealand, India will stick to the number 2 position and qualify for the WTC final. It means that India and Australia will meet in the WTC final 2023 in June this year.</p>
<img alt="WTC updated points table" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="67e6e0c1-da13-4340-8232-b0317ef08609" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/wtc%20pt%20final.PNG" />
<h2><strong>How can team India grab the number 1 spot in test rankings?</strong></h2>

<p>Under the following scenarios, team India will be able to overtake Australia to become the number 1 team in the world test rankings.</p>

<p>If team India wins the series 2-0 (India wins 2 matches and 2 matches are drawn)<br />
If team India wins the series 3-1 (India wins 3 matches and Australia 1)<br />
If team India pulls off a series whitewash 4-0 (India wins all 4 matches)<br />
If team India wins the series 3-0 (India wins 3 matches and 1 is drawn)</p>


Cricket fans in India are curious to know whether team India will be able to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final as the fourth and final Test match between India and Australia trudges towards a draw.

Cricket fans in India are curious to know whether team India will be able to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final as the fourth and final Test match between India and Australia trudges towards a draw. Well, we will be looking at India’s WTC final qualification scenario as New Zealand and Sri Lanka battle it out in the first Test match of the two-match series in Christchurch. A draw for India in the 4th Test would mean that India will require Sri Lanka to lose at least 1 match against the hosts New Zealand to keep its WTC campaign alive. India’s qualification for the WTC final confirmed now The final results for Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test match are out, where hosts New Zealand have prevailed upon the visitors. Sri Lanka had to win the ongoing Test series 2-0 in order to keep their WTC final campaign up and running. However, their defeat against New Zealand in the first Test match means that India can qualify for the WTC final even after ending the last Test match against Australia in a draw. In the case of a 2-0 series whitewash against New Zealand, Sri Lanka would have overtaken India in the WTC points table and moved up to second place with a PCT of 61.0. But that will not happen now. And India will maintain its second position on the WTC points table even after ending the ongoing Test series against Australia at 2-1. IND vs AUS in WTC 2023 final With a PCT of 69+, Australia now holds the first slot in the WTC points rankings. It has already qualified for WTC final by securing the first position in WTC points table after defeating India in the third Test match. Now, After Sri Lanka’s loss against New Zealand, India will stick to the number 2 position and qualify for the WTC final. It means that India and Australia will meet in the WTC final 2023 in June this year. How can team India grab the number 1 spot in test rankings? Under the following scenarios, team India will be able to overtake Australia to become the number 1 team in the world test rankings. If team India wins the series 2-0 (India wins 2 matches and 2 matches are drawn) If team India wins the series 3-1 (India wins 3 matches and Australia 1) If team India pulls off a series whitewash 4-0 (India wins all 4 matches) If team India wins the series 3-0 (India wins 3 matches and 1 is drawn)

IND vs AUS in WTC 2023 final: Check updated WTC points table after Sri Lanka's defeat against New Zealand

<p>Following the result on day five of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad, India sealed the remaining spot in the World Test Championship final and will now face Australia in the summit clash at the Oval in London on June 7th. The Indian captain Rohit Sharma while stressing the importance of doing well against Australia on a neutral ground, said winning in the UK is critical for the team given what they achieved on their road to the final.</p>

<p>Speaking to the media in the post-match presser on Monday, Rohit said the workload management going forward would be the key considering India will play the final right after the end of IPL 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When asked if this would pose any problem in preparation for the WTC final, India’s all-format skipper said no – adding because since most of the teams would be out by the time the playoffs will begin, so those players who will be available can leave for the UK earlier and get acclimatised to the conditions there.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/long-may-it-continue-india-coach-rahul-dravid-praises-this-exciting-young-player-after-australia-tests-571608">'Long may it continue...': India coach Rahul Dravid praises THIS exciting young player after Australia Tests</a></p>

<p>"I don't think it will be a huge problem but yeah, look I believe in preparation and preparations will be key for us come the finals. Around 21st May, there will be six teams who will possibly be out of IPL playoffs contention and so whichever players are available, we will try and find time to get them to the UK early as possible and get some time and we will monitor as much as possible," Rohit said.</p>

<p>Putting a clear rod map ahead as to how the management will deal with players workload, Rohit added they would be sending some Duke Balls to the bowlers as well for them to practice and find their rhythm.</p>

<p>He further said all these factors are critical for them to do well in the finale as winning the WTC would be on their mind having lost it the previously against New Zealand.</p>

<p>"Look, I think it's quite critical for us, we're going to keep in constant touch with all players who are going to play that final and monitor their workload and see what's happening with them," Rohit said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In fact, we are sending some Dukes Balls to all fast bowlers and see if they get some time to bowl with that, but again it all depends on individuals, guys who will be part of finals are not the guys who have not played in UK and may be one or two guys here and there and rest all of us have played in that part of the world," the right-handed batter added.</p>


Following the result on day five of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad, India sealed the remaining spot in the World Test Championship final and will now face Australia in the summit clash at the Oval in London on June 7th.

Following the result on day five of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad, India sealed the remaining spot in the World Test Championship final and will now face Australia in the summit clash at the Oval in London on June 7th. The Indian captain Rohit Sharma while stressing the importance of doing well against Australia on a neutral ground, said winning in the UK is critical for the team given what they achieved on their road to the final. Speaking to the media in the post-match presser on Monday, Rohit said the workload management going forward would be the key considering India will play the final right after the end of IPL 2023. When asked if this would pose any problem in preparation for the WTC final, India’s all-format skipper said no – adding because since most of the teams would be out by the time the playoffs will begin, so those players who will be available can leave for the UK earlier and get acclimatised to the conditions there. ALSO READ: 'Long may it continue...': India coach Rahul Dravid praises THIS exciting young player after Australia Tests "I don't think it will be a huge problem but yeah, look I believe in preparation and preparations will be key for us come the finals. Around 21st May, there will be six teams who will possibly be out of IPL playoffs contention and so whichever players are available, we will try and find time to get them to the UK early as possible and get some time and we will monitor as much as possible," Rohit said. Putting a clear rod map ahead as to how the management will deal with players workload, Rohit added they would be sending some Duke Balls to the bowlers as well for them to practice and find their rhythm. He further said all these factors are critical for them to do well in the finale as winning the WTC would be on their mind having lost it the previously against New Zealand. "Look, I think it's quite critical for us, we're going to keep in constant touch with all players who are going to play that final and monitor their workload and see what's happening with them," Rohit said. "In fact, we are sending some Dukes Balls to all fast bowlers and see if they get some time to bowl with that, but again it all depends on individuals, guys who will be part of finals are not the guys who have not played in UK and may be one or two guys here and there and rest all of us have played in that part of the world," the right-handed batter added.

BGT 2023: 'We will send Duke Balls to fast bowlers for them to practice for WTC final,' says Rohit Sharma

<p>India ended the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy versus Australia by beating the visitors 2-1 after the fourth and final Test, in Ahmedabad, ended in a tame draw on Monday (March 13).&nbsp;The series saw India enter the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they will once again face Australia, on June 07, in order to win the coveted title. There were many top performers for India with the likes of captain Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel doing well in the four Tests. Talking about the spin-bowling all-rounder Axar, he saw his stocks rising as a batter with three crucial half-centuries. During the Ahmedabad Test, the local boy Axar achieved a massive feat on Day 5 of the series decider.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Axar became the fifth cricketer to hit 500 runs and take 50 wickets in 12 Tests. He now has 513 runs and 50 wickets in the purest format of the game. In addition, he became only the second Indian to achieve the historic feat after veteran R Ashwin (596 runs and 63 wickets).</p>

<p>The exclusive club is led by South Africa's Aubrey Faulkner (682 runs and 52 wickets), who is followed by Australia's Jack Gregory (744 runs and 57 wickets) and England great Ian Botham (549 runs and 70 wickets).</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-r-ashwin-recalls-conversation-with-virat-kohli-before-former-captains-ahmedabad-test-heroics-571578">Ind vs Aus: R Ashwin recalls conversation with Virat Kohli before former captain's Ahmedabad Test heroics</a></strong></p>

<p>Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also lauded Axar for his performances in the 2022/23 BGT. "Well, he's been phenomenal with the bat. He didn't get too many chances with the ball in this particular series because Jadeja was doing the damage. Ashwin bowled well in the series. So, I feel as a batter, you know Axar coming at No.8 or 9 and scoring those winning knocks, 70 in Delhi and another one in Nagpur," Harbhajan told India Today.</p>

<p>"He put India ahead in this game by scoring those runs in quick fashion and, of course, good to see him evolving himself as an all-rounder more with the bat now, since he has got the opportunity and he is making the most of it and it's good to see that he's not shying away," Bhajji added.</p>

<p>Axar ended with 264 runs -- third-most overall -- along with three scalps in the just-concluded Australia Tests.&nbsp;</p>


India ended the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy versus Australia by beating the visitors 2-1 after the fourth and final Test, in Ahmedabad, ended in a tame draw on Monday (March 13).

India ended the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy versus Australia by beating the visitors 2-1 after the fourth and final Test, in Ahmedabad, ended in a tame draw on Monday (March 13). The series saw India enter the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they will once again face Australia, on June 07, in order to win the coveted title. There were many top performers for India with the likes of captain Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel doing well in the four Tests. Talking about the spin-bowling all-rounder Axar, he saw his stocks rising as a batter with three crucial half-centuries. During the Ahmedabad Test, the local boy Axar achieved a massive feat on Day 5 of the series decider. Axar became the fifth cricketer to hit 500 runs and take 50 wickets in 12 Tests. He now has 513 runs and 50 wickets in the purest format of the game. In addition, he became only the second Indian to achieve the historic feat after veteran R Ashwin (596 runs and 63 wickets). The exclusive club is led by South Africa's Aubrey Faulkner (682 runs and 52 wickets), who is followed by Australia's Jack Gregory (744 runs and 57 wickets) and England great Ian Botham (549 runs and 70 wickets). Also read: Ind vs Aus: R Ashwin recalls conversation with Virat Kohli before former captain's Ahmedabad Test heroics Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also lauded Axar for his performances in the 2022/23 BGT. "Well, he's been phenomenal with the bat. He didn't get too many chances with the ball in this particular series because Jadeja was doing the damage. Ashwin bowled well in the series. So, I feel as a batter, you know Axar coming at No.8 or 9 and scoring those winning knocks, 70 in Delhi and another one in Nagpur," Harbhajan told India Today. "He put India ahead in this game by scoring those runs in quick fashion and, of course, good to see him evolving himself as an all-rounder more with the bat now, since he has got the opportunity and he is making the most of it and it's good to see that he's not shying away," Bhajji added. Axar ended with 264 runs -- third-most overall -- along with three scalps in the just-concluded Australia Tests.

BGT 2022/23: Axar Patel attains STAGGERING feat after India beat Australia 2-1

<p>India entered the World Test Championship (WTC) final on Monday, March 13 after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets on the last ball of the Christchurch Test match. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson dived to secure the winning run and Twitter erupted in joy as soon as the third umpire signaled he was in. Indian fans' happiness knew no limits after the thrilling Test and the tweets by them in appreciation of New Zealand and Kane Williamson showed it. Here are some of them:</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Test Cricket is Alive,Z needed 1 off last they made it,Nz won and took India to WTC final.What a game <a href="https://t.co/KYnVSteNe3">pic.twitter.com/KYnVSteNe3</a></p>
— Huzaifa khan (@HuzaifaKhan021) <a href="https://twitter.com/HuzaifaKhan021/status/1635171557806067712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you, Kane Williamson 🙌😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsAUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvsSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvsSL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tests?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tests</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTCFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTCFinal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KaneWilliamson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KaneWilliamson</a> <a href="https://t.co/HwcRAdwpRB">pic.twitter.com/HwcRAdwpRB</a></p>
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/WisdenIndia/status/1635169925156442112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kane Williamson, jisne hume last WTC final haraya tha... This time helped us to reach WTC Final.<br />
<br />
So india will play against Australia in June only play won't win🤣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsAUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvsSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvsSL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wtcfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wtcfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/VZheOgamHb">pic.twitter.com/VZheOgamHb</a></p>
— harsh हर्ष (@mrHJ27) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrHJ27/status/1635170405962096641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">And India into the WTC Final..Thank you Williamson...<br />
🇮🇳🇮🇳🤩🤩 <a href="https://t.co/YzKILh73ep">pic.twitter.com/YzKILh73ep</a></p>
— Himansu™ जेठा (@Jetha_Live) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jetha_Live/status/1635172765539123200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Streets won't forget Kane Williamson and co. helped us to qualify for WTC final. <a href="https://t.co/mXRA23fbLN">pic.twitter.com/mXRA23fbLN</a></p>
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) <a href="https://twitter.com/LoyalSachinFan/status/1635162281935007744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>New Zealand started Day 5 of the Test at 28/1, needing 257 runs to win. Sri Lanka although, struck early as Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls were sent back quickly and New Zealand were three down for 90. Skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell then joined forces at the crease and added 142 runs for the fourth wicket before Mitchell was bowled for 81.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-australia-4th-test-sunil-gavaskar-dances-on-oscar-winning-naatu-naatu-song-watch-571525">India vs Australia, 4th Test: Sunil Gavaskar DANCES on Oscar winning 'Naatu Naatu' song - WATCH</a></p>

<p>Tom Blundell was next to go cheaply as Sri Lanka threatened to take hold of the match. It was Michael Bracewell who then stood with Kane Williamson as the duo brought target down to 19 runs. Kane Williamson, who scored a brilliant century, kept the Kiwis going as they achieved the target on the last ball of the match.</p>

<p>India and Australia, on the other hand, decided to shake hands to draw the fourth Test in Ahmedabad after Tea on Day 5 with Australia leading by 84 runs and eight wickets intact. India, however, took the Border-Gavaskar series 2-1 and booked a place in the WTC final, thanks to New Zealand.</p>

<p>For Sri Lanka to make it to the WTC final against Australia, who had secured their place much earlier, they needed to beat New Zealand not only in this Test match but the next one as well and take the two-match series 2-0. They fought till the end but alas, Kane Williamson, 121, stood tall between them and a victory.&nbsp;</p>


India entered the World Test Championship (WTC) final on Monday, March 13 after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets on the last ball of the Christchurch Test match.

India entered the World Test Championship (WTC) final on Monday, March 13 after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets on the last ball of the Christchurch Test match. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson dived to secure the winning run and Twitter erupted in joy as soon as the third umpire signaled he was in. Indian fans' happiness knew no limits after the thrilling Test and the tweets by them in appreciation of New Zealand and Kane Williamson showed it. Here are some of them: Test Cricket is Alive,Z needed 1 off last they made it,Nz won and took India to WTC final.What a game pic.twitter.com/KYnVSteNe3 — Huzaifa khan (@HuzaifaKhan021) March 13, 2023 × Thank you, Kane Williamson 🙌😍#India #INDvsAUS #NZvsSL #Cricket #Tests #WTCFinal #KaneWilliamson pic.twitter.com/HwcRAdwpRB — Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) March 13, 2023 × Kane Williamson, jisne hume last WTC final haraya tha... This time helped us to reach WTC Final. So india will play against Australia in June only play won't win🤣#INDvsAUS #NZvsSL #wtcfinal pic.twitter.com/VZheOgamHb — harsh हर्ष (@mrHJ27) March 13, 2023 × And India into the WTC Final..Thank you Williamson... 🇮🇳🇮🇳🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/YzKILh73ep — Himansu™ जेठा (@Jetha_Live) March 13, 2023 × Streets won't forget Kane Williamson and co. helped us to qualify for WTC final. pic.twitter.com/mXRA23fbLN — R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) March 13, 2023 × New Zealand started Day 5 of the Test at 28/1, needing 257 runs to win. Sri Lanka although, struck early as Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls were sent back quickly and New Zealand were three down for 90. Skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell then joined forces at the crease and added 142 runs for the fourth wicket before Mitchell was bowled for 81. Also Read: India vs Australia, 4th Test: Sunil Gavaskar DANCES on Oscar winning 'Naatu Naatu' song - WATCH Tom Blundell was next to go cheaply as Sri Lanka threatened to take hold of the match. It was Michael Bracewell who then stood with Kane Williamson as the duo brought target down to 19 runs. Kane Williamson, who scored a brilliant century, kept the Kiwis going as they achieved the target on the last ball of the match. India and Australia, on the other hand, decided to shake hands to draw the fourth Test in Ahmedabad after Tea on Day 5 with Australia leading by 84 runs and eight wickets intact. India, however, took the Border-Gavaskar series 2-1 and booked a place in the WTC final, thanks to New Zealand. For Sri Lanka to make it to the WTC final against Australia, who had secured their place much earlier, they needed to beat New Zealand not only in this Test match but the next one as well and take the two-match series 2-0. They fought till the end but alas, Kane Williamson, 121, stood tall between them and a victory.

WTC 2023: Twitterati go GAGA as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka on last ball by 2 wickets, taking India into final

<p>India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final when New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets in the Christchurch Test on Monday (March 13). Sri Lanka had to whitewash New Zealand in the two-match Test series and hope for India to not win the fourth and final Test versus Australia, in Ahmedabad. With their two-wicket loss at the hands of the Black Caps, SL was eliminated from the WTC final race. NZ's win propelled India to the summit clash where they will face Australia on June 7 at The Oval, London.</p>

<p>SL's loss meant that the outcome of the Ahmedabad Test became null and void, which eventually ended in a tame draw. Thus, India have entered the WTC final for the second time in a row. After missing out on winning the elusive title in 2021, losing to New Zealand, India will have another go at the WTC title. <strong>Here's a look at India's journey in the second cycle of the WTC:</strong></p>

<p><strong>India tour of England, 2021: 2-2</strong></p>

<p>After losing the inaugural WTC final to New Zealand by eight wickets, Virat Kohli-led India faced hosts England in a five-match Test series in the 2021 English summer. With famous wins in Lord's and The Oval Test, India had an unassailable 2-1 lead going into the series decider before the Covid-19 crisis in the Indian camp postponed the final Test by almost a year. In 2022, Jasprit Bumrah led India in the fifth and final Test where Ben Stokes-led England defeated the visitors by eight wickets in pursuit of 378. The series ended in a 2-2 stalemate.</p>

<p><strong>NZ tour of India, 2021: 1-0</strong></p>

<p>The two-match Test series saw the Kiwis hold onto a draw, in Kanpur, as Ajinkya Rahane-led India failed to claim the tenth wicket of the visitors who were asked to chase 285. The second and final Test saw regular captain Virat Kohli return as the home side thrashed NZ by a whopping 372-run margin.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>India tour of SA, 2022: 1-2</strong></p>

<p>India had a golden opportunity to beat South Africa in their own backyard when it toured the African nation in early 2022. However, the Kohli-led Indian team failed to make the most of their 1-0 lead and lost the series 1-2. KL Rahul led the side in Kohli's absence in the second and penultimate Test. Kohli resigned as the red-ball skipper after this series.</p>

<p><strong>SL tour of India, 2022: 2-0</strong></p>

<p>This was Rohit Sharma's first assignment as the Test captain after he was promoted as the full-time skipper. The Dimuth Karunaratne-led Islanders were clueless against the Indian team who romped past their Asian neighbours in both the Tests.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-kane-williamsons-timely-dive-vs-sri-lanka-in-christchurch-test-that-propelled-india-to-wtc-final-571532">WATCH: Kane Williamson's timely dive vs Sri Lanka, in Christchurch Test, that propelled India to WTC final</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>India tour of Bangladesh, 2022: 2-0</strong></p>

<p>Rahul led India in the two Tests with Rohit out of action due to injury. They defeated the Bangla Tigers by 188 runs in the series opener before the home side put up a great fight in the series decider and gave it all while defending a paltry 145. Nonetheless, R Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer ensured India chased down the target with three wickets in hand to whitewash the hosts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Australia tour of India, 2023: 2-1</strong></p>

<p>After the England and SA tour, this was India's litmus Test. 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was highly-anticipated series as India still had some work to do to qualify for the WTC final. Rohit &amp; Co. took a 2-0 lead after winning the opening two Tests, with Rohit, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin being the top performers before Australia bounced back to make it 2-1; winning the third Test by nine wickets. Before the end of the fourth and final Test, India qualified for the WTC summit clash -- with New Zealand defeating Sri Lanka in a thriller in Christchurch -- before the series finale ended in a tame draw on Monday (March 13).&nbsp;</p>

<p>India will face Australia in the WTC finale at The Oval, London. This will be India's first-ever ICC final face-off&nbsp;versus Australia, in men's cricket, after the 2003 ODI World Cup.</p>


India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final when New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets in the Christchurch Test on Monday (March 13).

India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final when New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets in the Christchurch Test on Monday (March 13). Sri Lanka had to whitewash New Zealand in the two-match Test series and hope for India to not win the fourth and final Test versus Australia, in Ahmedabad. With their two-wicket loss at the hands of the Black Caps, SL was eliminated from the WTC final race. NZ's win propelled India to the summit clash where they will face Australia on June 7 at The Oval, London. SL's loss meant that the outcome of the Ahmedabad Test became null and void, which eventually ended in a tame draw. Thus, India have entered the WTC final for the second time in a row. After missing out on winning the elusive title in 2021, losing to New Zealand, India will have another go at the WTC title. Here's a look at India's journey in the second cycle of the WTC: India tour of England, 2021: 2-2 After losing the inaugural WTC final to New Zealand by eight wickets, Virat Kohli-led India faced hosts England in a five-match Test series in the 2021 English summer. With famous wins in Lord's and The Oval Test, India had an unassailable 2-1 lead going into the series decider before the Covid-19 crisis in the Indian camp postponed the final Test by almost a year. In 2022, Jasprit Bumrah led India in the fifth and final Test where Ben Stokes-led England defeated the visitors by eight wickets in pursuit of 378. The series ended in a 2-2 stalemate. NZ tour of India, 2021: 1-0 The two-match Test series saw the Kiwis hold onto a draw, in Kanpur, as Ajinkya Rahane-led India failed to claim the tenth wicket of the visitors who were asked to chase 285. The second and final Test saw regular captain Virat Kohli return as the home side thrashed NZ by a whopping 372-run margin. India tour of SA, 2022: 1-2 India had a golden opportunity to beat South Africa in their own backyard when it toured the African nation in early 2022. However, the Kohli-led Indian team failed to make the most of their 1-0 lead and lost the series 1-2. KL Rahul led the side in Kohli's absence in the second and penultimate Test. Kohli resigned as the red-ball skipper after this series. SL tour of India, 2022: 2-0 This was Rohit Sharma's first assignment as the Test captain after he was promoted as the full-time skipper. The Dimuth Karunaratne-led Islanders were clueless against the Indian team who romped past their Asian neighbours in both the Tests. Also read: WATCH: Kane Williamson's timely dive vs Sri Lanka, in Christchurch Test, that propelled India to WTC final India tour of Bangladesh, 2022: 2-0 Rahul led India in the two Tests with Rohit out of action due to injury. They defeated the Bangla Tigers by 188 runs in the series opener before the home side put up a great fight in the series decider and gave it all while defending a paltry 145. Nonetheless, R Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer ensured India chased down the target with three wickets in hand to whitewash the hosts. Australia tour of India, 2023: 2-1 After the England and SA tour, this was India's litmus Test. 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was highly-anticipated series as India still had some work to do to qualify for the WTC final. Rohit & Co. took a 2-0 lead after winning the opening two Tests, with Rohit, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin being the top performers before Australia bounced back to make it 2-1; winning the third Test by nine wickets. Before the end of the fourth and final Test, India qualified for the WTC summit clash -- with New Zealand defeating Sri Lanka in a thriller in Christchurch -- before the series finale ended in a tame draw on Monday (March 13). India will face Australia in the WTC finale at The Oval, London. This will be India's first-ever ICC final face-off versus Australia, in men's cricket, after the 2003 ODI World Cup.

WTC Final: Reliving India's run in second cycle as they qualify for summit clash

<p>On Monday (March 13), the fifth and final day of the New Zealand-Sri Lanka first Test, in Christchurch, commenced after a rain delay. At stumps on Day 4, all results were possible as New Zealand ended the day's play at 28 for 1 after being set a tricky 285-run target for the hosts. After a rain delayed start, NZ resumed the run-chase and lost Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls soon but Kane Williamson, 121 not out, and Daryl Mitchell's 86-ball 81 propelled the Kiwis to a thrilling two-wicket win on the last ball of the contest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The match went down to the wire. While a Lankan victory looked out of sorts during Mitchell-Williamson's 142-run fourth-wicket stand, the visitors kept bouncing back in the game. However, Williamson's calculative knock took his side past the finish line courtesy of a timely dive on the last ball with one needed for a memorable triumph. While wickets kept tumbling from the other end, following Mitchell's departure, the former New Zealand captain held his nerve and dived to end Sri Lanka's hopes of reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-when-and-where-will-india-lock-horns-with-australia-to-end-10-year-long-icc-title-drought-571484">WTC final: When and where will India lock horns with Australia to end 10-year-long ICC-title drought</a></strong></p>

<p>For SL to qualify, they had to hope for India to not win the Ahmedabad Test versus Australia -- which later ended in a tame draw -- and inflict a whitewash over New Zealand. Nonetheless, with their defeat in Christchuch, they were eliminated as Williamson's dive took India to the WTC final. Here's the video of Williamson's dive that set up an Indo-Aus WTC final by eliminating Sri Lanka:</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A Williamson dive that we see, a sprint from an injured Wagner that we don't. What a finish. <a href="https://t.co/Jt6hEsRXV8">pic.twitter.com/Jt6hEsRXV8</a></p>
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) <a href="https://twitter.com/vinayakkm/status/1635172630717427712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>After the Christchurch Test, India and Australia also settled for a tame draw in the fourth and final encounter of the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Ahmedabad. Both sides will lock horns in the WTC final on June 07 at The Oval, London.</p>


On Monday (March 13), the fifth and final day of the New Zealand-Sri Lanka first Test, in Christchurch, commenced after a rain delay. At stumps on Day 4, all results were possible as New Zealand ended the day's play at 28 for 1 after being set a tricky 285-run target for the hosts.

On Monday (March 13), the fifth and final day of the New Zealand-Sri Lanka first Test, in Christchurch, commenced after a rain delay. At stumps on Day 4, all results were possible as New Zealand ended the day's play at 28 for 1 after being set a tricky 285-run target for the hosts. After a rain delayed start, NZ resumed the run-chase and lost Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls soon but Kane Williamson, 121 not out, and Daryl Mitchell's 86-ball 81 propelled the Kiwis to a thrilling two-wicket win on the last ball of the contest. The match went down to the wire. While a Lankan victory looked out of sorts during Mitchell-Williamson's 142-run fourth-wicket stand, the visitors kept bouncing back in the game. However, Williamson's calculative knock took his side past the finish line courtesy of a timely dive on the last ball with one needed for a memorable triumph. While wickets kept tumbling from the other end, following Mitchell's departure, the former New Zealand captain held his nerve and dived to end Sri Lanka's hopes of reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. Also read: WTC final: When and where will India lock horns with Australia to end 10-year-long ICC-title drought For SL to qualify, they had to hope for India to not win the Ahmedabad Test versus Australia -- which later ended in a tame draw -- and inflict a whitewash over New Zealand. Nonetheless, with their defeat in Christchuch, they were eliminated as Williamson's dive took India to the WTC final. Here's the video of Williamson's dive that set up an Indo-Aus WTC final by eliminating Sri Lanka: A Williamson dive that we see, a sprint from an injured Wagner that we don't. What a finish. pic.twitter.com/Jt6hEsRXV8 — Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) March 13, 2023 × After the Christchurch Test, India and Australia also settled for a tame draw in the fourth and final encounter of the 2022/23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Ahmedabad. Both sides will lock horns in the WTC final on June 07 at The Oval, London.

WATCH: Kane Williamson's timely dive vs Sri Lanka, in Christchurch Test, that propelled India to WTC final

wtc-final

Wtc Final, News on Wtc Final, stories on Wtc Final, articles on Wtc Final, Wtc Final stories at Wion, Wtc Final news, Wtc Final latest news

wtc final