WTC Final 2023: India vs Australia Confirmed Playing 11 for Both
Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins face off as we look at the confirmed best predicted playing 11 for India vs Australia ICC WTC Final 2023.
After witnessing a scintillating 2 months of IPL in T20 format, we are now in for a Test retreat with one of the best events of the format as India take on Australia in the World Test Championship final 2023. Two teams with amazing star power finished at the top of the points table after two years of gruelling cricket will take guard against each other.
Team India would be looking to amend their record in the second edition of the World Test Championship after having lost the first one. While most of the players are the same for the second edition, a few key players like Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer won’t be a part of the Final owing to injuries.
For Australia, it felt like they were going to put forward their strongest squad on paper, until the injury of Josh Hazlewood came forward. However, even after that, his replacement, Scott Boland is no novice either. Even as per the leading website, Betway, Australia are favourites to win the WTC Final 2023 with odds at 1.24. So, as we wait for the match to begin, let’s look at the best predicted playing 11 for India vs Australia WTC Final 2023.
Match Details:
Tournament: ICC World Test Championship 21-23
Type: ICC WTC Final 2023
Where: The Oval, England
When: June 7-11
ICC WTC Final 2023: Official Players List for Team India
Batters: Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma [c], Shubman Gill & Virat Kohli
Wks: Ishan Kishan & KS Bharat
All-rounders: Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja
Bowlers: Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur & Umesh Yadav
Stand-bys: Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal & Mukesh Kumar
Team India’s Best Predicted Playing 11
Team India’s last Test series was against the same team, Australia, but at home in subcontinent conditions. However, with WTC Final being played at the Oval, England, Team India will have a complete revamp of strategy when it comes to their bowling attack. But how about the batting attack that Team India will look to implement?
Well, for starters, India have a settled top 4 in the form of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli. This is the same top 4 that played the home Test series vs Australia. Thankfully, except for Rohit, the form of the other three players is something to cheer for India.
Shubman Gill has not only scored in IPL being the Orange Cap winner, but he has also been scoring in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is too. Cheteshwar Pujara has also been scoring tons of runs in County cricket. Since the slump from 2020 to 2022, Virat Kohli has brought back his form to the best. While Rohit may not have had a good IPL, he is a beast when it comes to International matches.
With a strong top 4, the selection of number 5 and Wicket-keeper will be an interesting one. With KL Rahul absent, Ajinkya Rahane should seal his spot for the number 5 position. For the keeper, India have Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat fighting for the spot. But with a crucial Final, India may not risk playing debutant, Ishan Kishan. So, we should see KS Bharat as the first-choice keeper for India.
All-rounders?
Coming to the all-rounders, India have three spin bowling all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Ravichandran Ashwin with two pace bowling all-rounders, Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat. Given the conditions, India will play only two of them. But which ones would be will be a big headache for India?
The last WTC final saw India opting for two spinners and three pacer combinations. The move did backfire as India looked teeth less in the bowling. Hence, India may go ahead with Shardul ahead of Ash given pace-friendly conditions and the success of Shardul at The Oval, England.
For the Pace bowling, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will lead the bowling attack for India. Now for the third pace option, Umesh Yadav seems a good selection, and should get preference. However, India can also look to play Unadkat with Umesh Yadav missing out. But for now, Umesh seems a front-runner.
ICC WTC Final 2023 – Best Playing 11 for Team India:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami & Mohammed Siraj
ICC WTC Final 2023: Official Players List for Australia
Batters: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head & Usman Khawaja
Wks: Alex Carey & Josh Inglis
All-rounders: Cameron Green
Bowlers: Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Todd Murphy
Australia’s Best Predicted Playing 11
Australia’s playing 11 seems pretty straightforward except for 1 position. We should see David Warner and Usman Khawaja opening the batting followed by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. Travis Head seems a good shot at number 5 with All-rounder Cameron Green following him. Meanwhile, Alex Carey should be the first-choice keeper for Australia.
Coming to the bowling, the absence of Josh Hazlewood means Scott Boland should be in line to play as the third pacer. Pat Cummins and Mitchell should lead the Pace attack for Australia with Nathan Lyon being the leading spinner. Cameron Green may add good value as the fifth bowler of the squad.
ICC WTC Final 2023 – Best Playing 11 for Australia:
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon & Scott Boland
Top Fantasy Players 11 for India vs Australia WTC Final 2023
Batters: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith & Marnus Labuschagne
Wks: Alex Carey
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja
Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Shardul Thakur, Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami & Mohammed Siraj
CVC Choice: Steve Smith & Mohammed Shami
Please check our Telegram channel for fresh Fantasy 11 updates based on Toss, ground conditions, etc.
Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for India vs Australia ICC WTC Final 2023? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com
ALSO READ: IPL 2023: The Cost Efficient and Best Bang for Buck 11 Explained
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Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
