Reacting to the criticism for leaving Ravichandran Ashwin out of the playing XI, India team's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey defended the decision and said the conditions forced the management to take the tough call.
"It's always a very difficult decision to drop a champion bowler like him. But we looked at the conditions in the morning and thought an additional seamer would definitely be beneficial. It also worked in the past. In the last tour, we went in with 4 pacers and the seamers did well for us," Mhambrey told the press on Wednesday.
"You can always look at the hindsight and say that we could have played an extra-spinner but we felt an extra-pacer was needed," he added.
The World Test Championship (WTC) final got underway on June 7 (Wednesday) and Team India was pushed on the back foot by the mighty Australian batting attack on just the opening day of the Test match at The Oval, London. Travis Head took a leaf out of 'Bazball' and stroked a counter-attacking century while the 'best Test batter of this generation' Steve Smith rose to the challenge in a crunch ICC knockout game just like he had done several times before.
Head's unbeaten 146-run knock coupled with Smith's 95 not out propelled the Baggy Greens' total to an imposing 327/3 at the stumps on Day 1. After India struggled to break the unbeaten 251-run alliance between Head and Smith, Rohit Sharma and the Indian team management were heavily criticised for dropping No.1 ranked Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin for the summit clash.
Mhambrey also spoke about the importance of going into a Test match with the right combination of players and the need for honest conversations to keep the dressing room in a happy space.
"When the team discussion is there, we keep talking about the combination, not only on the day before the Test but over a few days because we know the conditions here. We have been practicing for the last 3-4 days. We have seen the wicket and had discussions with the players," Mhambrey said.
"We have our strategies, the player is important, but we also have to look at our combination. We discussed getting the right combination.
"Yes, he is a world-class bowler. No doubt about it. But the player also understands that if we take a decision, it's for the sake of the team.
"Our conversations are honest and the players also understand why such a decision was taken," he added.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
WTC Final: Travis Head, Steve Smith make Rohit Sharma's India pay for selection blunder as Australia dominate Day 1
WTC 2023 Final: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma shatter Dhoni's rare record during India vs Australia's summit clash at the Oval
