Ravi Shastri: Bharat vs. Kishan could come down to what bowling mix they use.

Who should keep wicket for India when they play Australia in the final of the World Test Championship? India has to choose between two options who haven’t played many Tests. KS Bharat has only played four Tests, and Ishan Kishan hasn’t even played one yet.

Ravi Shastri thinks the choice could come down to how the conditions are at The Oval. Ravi Shastri told Star Sports that India should choose their keeper based on how their bowling attack is made up. In their most recent Test series, at home against Australia in February and March, they chose Bharat over Kishan. Shastri thought they might do the same at the Oval if conditions there called for two spinners.

“I think India might just go with it, but it depends on who is playing. If there are two spinners, it might be KS Bharat, but if there are four seamers and one spinner, it might be Ishan Kishan.”

Shastri has been a coach in a WTC final, so he knows how the weather can affect the game. Two years ago, when India played New Zealand in Southampton, they chose three fast bowlers and two spinners. However, the weather was so cloudy that the spin bowlers almost didn’t get to play. Ravindra Jadeja didn’t have as much of an effect as R. Ashwin, who took four wickets and gave up only 45 runs in 25 overs over two innings. Jadeja only bowled 15.2 overs. New Zealand won the Test by eight wickets. They did this by using five bowlers.

Spin is usually important at The Oval, but the problem for India is that Test matches are usually played there in the second half of the English summer, when it is warmer and dry. Since 1880, the Oval has been the site of 104 Tests, and most of them have been played in August and September. Only eight of the tests began in July. When the WTC final starts on June 7, it will be the first time in history that an Oval Test has been played in June.

Considering the playing conditions from India’s last stint at the WTC Final, @RaviShastriOfc covers all bases to pick India’s playing XI for the upcoming #UltimateTest.

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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 1, 2023

Even so, Ravi Shastri said he was leaning toward a two-spinner mix since the UK has mostly had sunny weather so far this summer. Shastri was sure about his 11 players for the final, except for the wicketkeeper. Ashwin and fast bowler Umesh Yadav were fighting for one spot in India’s five-man attack.

Shastri said, “When you look at the WTC, what you learned from the last time India was in the final is very important.” “You have to choose a team that fits the circumstances. The last time I went to Southampton, the sky was very cloudy. So I’ll choose my 12.

“My 12 will be easy to understand. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Cheteshwar Pujara will bat at number three; Virat Kohli will bat at number four; and Ajinkya Rahane will bat at number five. Jadeja will be number six, Mohammed Shami will be number seven, Mohammed Siraj will be number eight, Shardul Thakur will be number nine, Ashwin will be number eleven, and Umesh Yadav will be number twelve. So this is number twelve for me.

“Then, based on the conditions, Umesh and Shardul will play with Siraj and Shami if there are four seamers. But if two spinners play, which should be the case at the Oval because the weather in England right now is sometimes nice and warm, then Ashwin, Jadeja, Shardul, Shami, and Siraj will be in the lineup.