WTC Final: To play Ashwin or not, the key question in team composition

saying, “All 15 must be ready to play at any point in time,” Rohit Sharma summed up what India’s think-tank was going through a day before the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While Australia have more or less confirmed their XI, India are still scratching their heads about their team composition. It wasn’t supposed to be this difficult, but the pitch at The Oval means they have been left pondering whether to go with a balanced team or compromise it for the sake of conditions and play four seamers.
Like it was the case in 2021 when India landed in England for the Test series, once again all the noise around the WTC final is whether Ravichandran Ashwin will get a game or not. When the squad was announced, it looked a fairly straightforward call, where India could afford to play both Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin at a venue that has horically favoured spinners.
But here they are, once again facing plenty of questions over the composition of the XI, particularly in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma, who provided India amazing control in 2021.

When it comes to the composition of the attack, there is plenty for India to ponder over. Whether to go with a two-three (two spinners, three pacers) or 1-4 (one-spinner, four seamers) combination, and if it is indeed three seamers, who the three will be, are questions that need answers.
Ashwin & Jadeja
From being a team that preferred stocking up the XI with batsmen, India have evolved into a side that chooses to have five bowling options as it gives them a better chance to pick 20 opposition wickets. A formula that was set the Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri combo has worked wonders for India across all conditions. And key to it have been the spin twins – Ashwin and Jadeja – who can also make telling, game-changing contributions with the bat. It was these two, alongside Axar Patel, who kept rescuing India with the bat whenever India found themselves in a hole in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. It was their performance with the bat that tilted the scales in favour of the hosts and has taken them to the summit clash.
R Ashwin and Jadeja celebrating a wicket. (FILE)
Although enough has been said about their bowling, if the pitch remains seamer-friendly, there is going to be space for only one. And in a team that doesn’t have left-handed batters, Jadeja walks into the XI ahead of Ashwin. But dropping the off-spinner will not be an easy decision.
Speaking on Ashwin’s YouTube channel, the Oval groundsman said there will be good bounce on the pitch, which could tempt India to play both spinners. If conditions remain dry, there is a strong chance that the pitch could start aiding spinners on Days 4 & 5 and in case the match extends to Day 6. And with Australia having four left-handed batsmen in the top seven and five in all, playing Ashwin won’t be a bad option.

In the 2018 series, which India lost on similar pitches, Ashwin was more than handy, causing all sorts of problems for England batsmen. And then, with Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma missing this time, Ashwin can also provide control and flirt between offence and defence to complement the pacers in the first innings.
Three seamers or four, and who are they?
Now in case both spinners play and Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj being sure picks, it will be a toss-up between Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav. Beyond them is Jaydev Unadkat, who is a rank outsider, but should he make it as the third pacer, he can create the rough patches for Ashwin to work on. Plus the seaming conditions could help him more than Yadav and Thakur. However, if India feel Unadkat is not needed, picking one of Yadav and Thakur won’t be an easy choice. While Thakur can be handy with the bat and can make the ball swing, in dry conditions where reverse-swing could be a factor, India will need someone like Yadav who bowled exceedingly well last time at The Oval. Although both can be a bit expensive, Yadav can also make use of the bounce and his extra yard of pace can make a difference. Thakur, on the other hand, has the knack of taking wickets and if India doesn’t play two spinners, he will slot in at No. 8, leaving Yadav and Unadkat vying for the fourth seamer’s spot.

There is also another spot India have to decide on. Whether to continue with KS Bharat behind the stumps or hand Ishan Kishan a debut. Bharat hasn’t made a convincing case with the bat, but in conditions where ‘keeping skills will be tested, his glovework will be needed. While Kishan can provide a spark in the middle, even in white-ball cricket when the ball moves around, the left-hander has shown a tendency to struggle. Going with Bharat seems a viable option for India at this point.