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World no.1 bowler in Test rankings Ravichandran Ashwin's omission from India's playing XI in the marquee World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia raised everyone's eyebrows at the Oval on Wednesday (June 7). Subsiding the ace spinner Ashwin, India skipper Rohit Sharma went with extra seamer for the summit clash against Australia. With four-seamer-and-one-spinner combination Rohit considered Umesh Yadav in India's final XI.
Harbhajan's honest take on Ashwin's omission
Meanwhile, India's legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh has a different opinion on Ashwin's missing out of the all-important WTC final against Australia. Harbhajan said that he is not exactly surprised after ace spinner's exclusion from Rohit's brigade's final XI in the summit clash at the Kennington Oval in London. The cricketer turned politician highlighted India's conundrum to play just one spinner and the choice was between the two best in the business, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Harbhajan said that India boast of a strong batting line-up and given the conditions the top six batters can pose a great threat to Australia.
"I am not exactly surprised looking at these conditions. Either you play R Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja. Unfortunately, R Ashwin misses out from this team. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and the top five and six look very very good," Harbhajan told Star Sports.
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Taking a bold call of dropping Ashwin, Rohit went with four seamers in Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav and a spinner in Jadeja.
Rohit's comments on Ashwin's ouster
After winning the toss Rohit said that it is always tough to leave Ashwin as he has been a match-winner for the team over the course of so many years.
“We are going to bowl. Just the conditions and also the weather being overcast. I don't think the pitch will change too much. You have to play good cricket and come out on top. Four seamers and one spinner. The spinner is Jadeja. It's always tough (to leave Ashwin), he's been a match-winner for us over the course of so many years. But you got to do the things that's needed for the team and eventually we came up with that decision. He (Rahane) brings a lot of experience, he's played 80-odd Test matches and he's done well for the team. He's been out for a while but but I don't think the experience that he has can change all of that,” Rohit said.
Ashwin's absence took everyone by surprise as he has been in the sizzling form since the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia earlier in February this year. In the four-match series which India won 2-1, Ashwin snared the most 25 wickets and was adjudged the Player of the series for his brilliant show with the ball and bat as well.
Cummins reveals key weapon
Meanwhile, Australian skipper Pat Cummins said,"We would have bowled as well, I don't think it makes too much of a difference. Hopefully day four and five, there's a bit of spin. You think it suits his (Boland) bowling, he's in the same spot all day long. This wicket has a bit of grass, he'll be a key weapon. We've been here for about 10 days. Pretty fresh, weather has been nice, we haven't missed a session, feeling good."
India's Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
Australia's Playing XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
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