Team India would be aiming to go one step further this time, after losing in the final of WTC 2021 at the hands of New Zealand. As they prepare for the ultimate battle, former India player Wasim Jaffer has named two players who are set to play ‘a massive role’ in the final.
Jaffer reckons the openers will have to be at their best as a good start in the match will be pivotal for India. The Indian team are set to face a daunting Australian bowling attack, and for that, the Indian openers will have to stand tall.
Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma are likely to open for the Indian team in the WTC Final, and thus the duo are set to play a crucial role.
“Openers will have to play a massive role. England is the most challenging place to bat because of the sideways movement. Conditions change so drastically because of the weather. It changes quickly. The duke’s ball also poses a lot of problems. As the ball gets old, it will keep swinging and also starts to reverse. With Starc and Cummins, running at 145 kph, it is going to be challenging,” Jaffer said in an interview.
The former India opener also believes Australia captain Pat Cummins can trouble India the most and the openers will have to be wary of the pacer, whose effectiveness with the Duke ball can be menacing.
“Cummins will be a different beast with the duke’s balls. If the conditions will be slightly in favour of them, then they will make life miserable for the Indian openers,” he added.
India are switching to the Test format after a lengthy period of white-ball cricket. Since the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Indian players have played only T20 cricket in the last two months courtesy of IPL, and Jaffer reckons the transition from T20 to Test cricket can be challenging for the players.