How many spinners should India play? Should Ashwin or Axar partner Jadeja if they opt for a two-man spin attack?
Nagraj Gollapudi
Has India finalized its combination? Nagraj Gollapudi reports from The Oval
All the details from India’s practice session, including the blow Ishan Kishan suffered on his wrist
In the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, in rainy conditions at Southampton, India fielded two spinners along with three pacers against New Zealand, who had a five-man pace attack. India played an important role in losing that Test. Two years later, India again play Australia in another WTC final in England. Except for conditions at The Oval, the forecast is for more sunshine.
But India is once again facing the following important selection questions.
KS Bharat or Ishan Kishan?
England is perhaps the most challenging venue for wicketkeepers as the Dukes’ ball tends to wobble and drop lower than elsewhere, challenging them to make quick adjustments.
KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan have almost no experience of playing in England. However, Bharat played a first-class match against West Indies A on India A’s tour of England in 2018, the same trip where Rishabh Pant scored runs and found his way into the Indian team.
Bharat, who replaced Pant in the four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is still settling into his role. Technically, he has relatively safe hands, but remains a work-in-progress.
Kishan, who was part of the squad for the home series against South Africa, is more than an X-factor and India can look to him in the job Pant has done. On the first day of training at The Oval on Sunday, Kishan played two long batting sessions but did not last. However, Bharat started with wicket-keeping before taking up the batting.
Should India go for continuity and stick to India? Or let Kishan make his debut in the WTC final even though he has never played a first-class match in England? In fact, Kishan has played only four first-class matches since 2021: two in South Africa against South Africa A in November-December 2021 and two Ranji matches for Jharkhand last December. It is a Catch-22 situation for India.
Should India play one spinner or two?
The sunny forecast, along with a dry surface despite good bounce, is the recipe for including two specialist spinners along with three pacers. At least, it is very tempting not to think of another spinner.
Although there is no certainty of a new pitch breaking as the Test progresses, it could mean the Indian think tank would look to field just one spinner along with four pacers including a bowling all-rounder.
If India lean towards fielding two spinners – a combination they fielded against New Zealand in the 2021 final – then R Ashwin will be at the forefront. Ashwin is No. 1 in the ICC Test bowling rankings and is only behind Ravindra Jadeja in the all-rounder category. He has rich experience of English conditions and will have fond memories of The Oval, where he recorded his best county figures of 6 for 27 in 2021 after coming in for a one-off match for Surrey in preparation for the tour of England .
Ashwin, however, was not involved in the five-match Pataudi Trophy as India relied on a 4-1 seam-bowling combination. But no one dominates Australia like Ashwin and he shared the Player of the Series award with Jadeja in the home series against Australia earlier this year.
Axar Patel is the other option but he is also similar to Jadeja.
If it’s a 3-2 combo, who is the third seamer?
The options are (in no particular order): Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat. In India’s first training session on Sunday, Thakur and Unadkat bowled and batted, while Umesh bowled in the second half of the training session.
Umesh, who was ruled out of the second half of IPL 2023 due to a hamstring injury, was the catalyst in the 2021 Oval Test when India took the series lead. Pace, reverse swing, creating pressure for his bowling partners – Umesh knows how to do it.
Thakur’s advantage is that he provides wicket-taking ability with his swing, cutter and good short ball, as well as providing batting depth. However, Thakur’s last Test was the only one at Edgbaston last year and he is also coming off a lackluster IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders.
Don’t be surprised if Unadkat is in the mix. While he was ruled out of IPL 2023 after suffering a freak injury while bowling in the nets for Lucknow Super Giants, Unadkat has abundant experience of bowling on slow, dry surfaces, which are usually Indian pitches . Unadkat, who is the only left-arm fast bowler in India’s team, makes up for his lack of pace with a heavy ball and difficult length as well as the ability to move the ball after pitching in to surprise the batsman. Are.
And, if India chooses a 4-1 combination, two of these three seamers will again be in contention.
Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo
