Squads –
IND –
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Hanuma Vihari, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha
NZ –
Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Will Young, Tom Blundell
Team News –
IND –
– Team India topped the WTC points table with some brilliant series wins against Australia in Australia and England in India.
– Ajinkya Rahane was the highest run scorer with 1095 runs while Ravichandran Ashwin highest wicket taker with 67 Wickets for India.
– Team India have already announced their playing XI which Includes 2 spin options in form of Ashwin and Jadeja amd 3 pace options in form of Ishant, Shami and Bumrah.
– Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma will open the Innings for India. Rohit has adjusted himself quite well in test cricket and scored 1030 runs this WTC. Gill showed his talent in Australia scoring crusial runs.
– Cheteshwar Pujara will bat at 1 down. Pujara is the wall of Indian cricket and his patience will be very important against a fiercy Kiwi bowling attack.
– Captain Kohli will bat at 2 down. Virat haven’t been on his best of form from past year and half but is a player for wh form doesn’t matter, he Averages 50+ against the Kiwis.
– Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant will bat next. Rahane will be very important in the middle along with Pant who is going through brilliant form. Pant will keep the Wickets.
– Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin the 2 spin twins will lead the spin attack and will also be important for scoring some runs down the order.
– Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack of India.
NZ –
– The Kiwis are the No 1 Test side in test cricket and have been playing some brilliant Cricket recently defeating India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Home and England in England.
– Kane Williamson was the highest scorer with 877 runs and Tim Southee was highest Wicket taker with 51 Wickets in WTC for New Zealand.
– Tom Latham and Devon Conway will open the innings. Latham has been a consistent performer for New Zealand from last 4-5 years while Conway who debuted in last series against England showed that he is here to stay scoring a double ton of debut.
– Kane Williamson will bat 1 down. Kane is very consistent in whatever format he plays and has scored 817 runs this test championship.
– Ross Taylor will bat at 2 down. Taylor is the most experienced player in the kiwi lineup who have played over a 100 games and averages 40+ in England.
– Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling will bat in middle. Nicholls is a very underrated played but has played aome amazing innings in that middle order for the Kiwis. Watling will keep the Wickets.
– Colin De Grandhomme will be the allround option along with Kyle Jamieson
.
– Ajaz Patel will lead the spin attack if plays along with Kane Williamson.
– Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee will handle the pace attack. Neil Wagner if plays will join them.
Probable XI –
IND –
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
NZ –
Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner/Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult
Pitch Report –
The Rose bowl, Southampton
The Pitch curator Simon Lee revealed that he has prepared Rose bowl wicket to have pace, carry and bounce. With the weather forecast offering a faint chance of rain during the ICC WTC Final, the conditions will suit seamers.
Team Blueprint –
WK –
Rishabh Pant( Middle order, LHB + wk, Batsman of attacking nature, 100 in practice game played recently, can’t miss him)
BJ Watling( 4 down, RHB + wk, one of the top wk around, 3789 test runs with a average of 37, must pick in gl )
BAT –
Virat Kohli( 2 down, RHB, no introduction needed, 877 runs in WTC , Must have)
Kane Williamson( 1 down, RHB, among the fab 4 Cricketer, 7000+ test runs with a Average of 53, 817 runs in World test championship, Must have)
Cheteshwar Pujara( 1 down, RHB, 4 50s in last 6 tests, poor Average of 28 in England with 500 runs, Must have in any condition)
Rohit Sharma( Open, RHB, excellent Average of 60 again New Zealand, highest scorer for India in WTC)
Ross Taylor( 2 down, RHB, experienced have played 107 test with 7500+ runs, averages 33 against India and 40 in England)
Tom Latham( Open, LHB, experienced with around 4000 test runs, 345 runs in 6 games against India)
Henry Nicholls( 3 down, LHB, in top 10 test rankings, 2200 runs with a good Average of 43 in tests, 105 runs in last 2 tests )
Ajinkya Rahane( 3 down, RHB, very dependable middle order Batsman, 556 runs at a Average of 29 in England)
Devon Conway( Open, LHB, very talented Cricketer, 306 runs in test series against England including a double ton, averages 50+ in all format’s currently, Must have)
Shubman Gill( Open, RHB, 378 test runs in 13 innings including a 91 against Australia recently, Must try in SL as well )
ALL –
Ravi Jadeja( Left arm orthodox + LHB, a gun fielder, 236 runs + 19 Wickets against New Zealand, Must have)
Ravichandran Ashwin( Off spin + RHB, a very handy Allrounder, 32 Wickets + 173 runs in last test series against England, Must have)
C De Grandhomme( Right Arm medium + lower order hitting, very good option to have )
BOWL –
Tim Southee( Right Arm medium fast, highest wicket taker in WTC for New Zealand, very experienced)
Trent Boult( Left arm fast, one of the top pacers around, 6 Wickets in last test, 17 innings 37 Wickets against India, Must have)
Jasprit Bumrah( Right Arm Fast, one of the best all format bowlers currently, had a decent tour of new Zealand picking 6 Wickets in 2 games)
Ishant Sharma( Right Arm medium fast, known for his swing, very experienced with 303 test Wickets for India, 13 innings 35 Wickets against New Zealand, Must have)
Mohammad Shami( Right Arm Fast, excellent bowler especially with the old ball, very poor record in England with a bowling Average of 47)
Niel Wagner( Left arm fast, 32 Wickets in WTC, 18 Wickets in 10 innings against India)
Kyle Jamieson( Right Arm medium fast, tall pacer, known for swing, 36 Wickets at an average of just 13 in WTC, can also bat, Must have)
Ajaz Patel( Left arm orthodox, 26 Wickets in 9 tests, 4 Wickets in last test against England, should try as will be only spinner from NZ )
C/VC Options –
IND –
Virat Kohli
Ravindra Jadeja
R Ashwin
Rohit Sharma
Cheteshwar Pujara
NZ –
Kane Williamson
Ross Taylor
Kyle Jamieson
Devon Conway
