ICC crowned New Zealand in 2021’s World Test Championship. There have been changes within the time gap of two years. However, one of the unchanged facts is that India reappears in the final lap. Australia has entered into the final ICC WTC for the first time. It is a completely new terrain for them. However, there is going to be a tough fight. This is something that is backed by experts like Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting, among many others.
India and Australia will meet for WTC 2023 on June 07, 2023, and the test will conclude on June 11, 2023. The Oval will play hosts as a neutral, even surfaced pitch. One-off play begins at 3 pm IST.
Pick Them Early, Ricky Ponting
Virat Kohli and Chetehswar Pujara have played spoilsport for Australia on several occasions. It is not surprising to know that Kohli’s aggression and Pujara’s stillness on the ground are something to look out for. Set gameplay from their side can indeed cause damage to the Aussies, especially considering that the Indian side is all charged up to redeem their previous loss against New Zealand.
Ponting believes that the pitch at The Oval will be similar to an Australian pitch. That is a place where Pujara and Kohli have troubled them the most. Hence, sending them back to the dugout as early as possible will be crucial for Australia.
Lookout For Ashwin, Sunil Gavaskar
Ravichandran Ashwin has emerged as one of the best all-rounders for India. Talking about test cricket matches alone. The spinner has recorded five centuries in the format. He will be complemented by other spinners like Jadeja and Axar Patel.
It goes on to signal that there is depth in India’s batting lineup, urging Gavaskar to spill the secretive heaviness of their batters. While some of the top cricket betting sites argue that Australia has a better chance of claiming the victory, Gavaskar states that the flat surface of The Oval will be largely beneficial for Indian batters.
Looks Like A Fair Play, Matthew Hayden
Hayden has taken a dig at the pitch of The Oval, saying that it is, by tradition, England’s bounciest pitch. He has added that the even surface favors neither spinners nor seamers, making it a completely neutral venue for fair play.
Hayden has further said that India’s failure at the ICC events comes from their own mentality and not necessarily due to the lack of skill. India is ranked at the top in test format with a 121 rating. They are followed by Australia with a 116 rating.
Top Five Indian Batters By Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri faced a similar challenge during his coaching period for Team India. Therefore, he is one of the most reliable personalities to actually comment on how the Sharma-led side should roll out its game in the upcoming WTC 2023. More specifically, he has stated the top batters who should be in the game.
Rohit Sharma and Shubham Gill are the openers who cannot be avoided. They should be followed by Pujara at the 3rd spot, Kohli at the 4th spot, and Rahane at the 5th spot to better handle the middle order. Gill has been in great form since TATA IPL 2023, and Pujara is the wall India needs against Australia. There is no word about the remaining batting lineup, but Ashwin and Jedeja could make it to the list.
Conclusion
After considering all the opinions of experts, it is right to assume that the possibility of the test match ending in a draw cannot be slipped away. Assuming that actually happens, India and Australia will share the title together for the ICC World Test Championship 2023 starting June 07, 2023, at 3 pm IST.
