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New Delhi: Former India selector Sarandeep Singh says that it makes no sense to pick KS Bharat as wicketkeeper over Ishan Kishan for the World Test Championship final against Australia and would also pick Umesh Yadav over Shardul Thakur in the playing 11. In the absence of the injured Rishabh Pant, Kishan, who is yet to play Test cricket, could provide the X-factor but Sarandeep feels Bharat walks into the playing eleven as the wicketkeeper.
“KS Bharat definitely. He is a proper Test match wicket-keeper and we saw that against Australia at home. He has been around for a while and should get the opportunity,” Sarandeep told PTI news agency.
The final of the WTC will be played at the Oval in London from June 7. The former India spinner said that Kishan’s time will come.
“Ishaan is an opening batsman. I am not saying that he is not capable of playing Tests. He is one for the future but he opens in limited overs cricket. Things will be different at number six. Yes, he hits hard from the first ball, which can be unfavorable in England, but Bharat can also bat well and play shots.
video | Former India selector Sarandeep Singh told PTI, “Picking KS Bharath over Ishan Kishan in the WTC final playing XI is a no brainer.” pic.twitter.com/qTmBdx7ffh
– Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 31, 2023
‘Umesh Yadav’s extra pace and old ball skills will come in handy’
Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, who were on fire in the recently concluded IPL, will share the workload in the pace department and the Indian team will have to choose between Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur as the third pace bowling option. Sarandeep said, “I am picking Umesh ahead of Shardul as he has extra pace and can reverse the old ball, he can be of great help on that oval track.”
“All the Indian batsmen are in good form in the first match and it augurs well for the team,” he added. He said, ‘I don’t see any concern about the batting or bowling going into the final. They are in all forms. Yes, conditions will be challenging as always in England and they will shift from T20 to Test mode. The weather can change on a daily basis and India has to adapt to it.
He said, facing bowlers like Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood is a big challenge but we have a world class batting attack. Shubman is the only guy who hasn’t played much in England but he is in the best form of his life and should do great things there. Series in Australia in 2021.”
The Australian pacer is used to bowling at a tough length and does not swing the ball as much as Indian pacers or Englishmen do and Sarandeep feels this will work in India’s favour. “The ball has to swing first. The strength of most Australian fast bowlers is to hit the length quickly. They are not the ones who swing the ball a lot.”
WTC win should end ICC trophy drought
India have not won an ICC trophy since 2013, despite being favorites in world events. Sarandeep said big finals are all about handling the pressure and hopes India don’t have a bad day like they did in last year’s T20 World Cup or the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
“Even if you look at the 2019 World Cup, we won most of the games and were favorites in the semi-finals and rain came, the game was pushed to the reserve day and we lost the game. If you look at the last two years, yes we lost comprehensively to Pakistan and England but things will change (at the WTC).
