## Hello Cricket Lovers,

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<a href="https://cricketaddictor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ICC-World-Test-Championship-Final-Points-Table-Final-Date-Schedule-Venue-Squads-Live-Streaming-Details-And-All-You-Need-To-Know.jpg">Source</a>

Well, well, time for me to shift the focus from Tennis to Cricket as the **ICC World Test Championship Cricket Final** is just 3 more days away as it's scheduled to happen from 18<sup>th</sup> to 22<sup>nd</sup> June at Southampton, England.

I just want to analyse both teams performance and also the possible team composition although both teams may not declare the team until the toss happens.

**India** and **New Zealand** are 2 contrasting teams with their home grounds will be having different types of pitches curated to take home advantage.

While India likes to prepare more and more spinner friendly pitches, New Zealand will be happy to support their ever awesome fast bowlers by preparing pitches that suits them.

We are now in a neutral venue but that is more or less will support fast bowlers as per the pitch curator's words and that means, it will be advantageous to New Zealand since they have been here for sometime now as they played against hosts England and their fast bowling was awesome in almost all the matches they played.

Let's analyse each team's chances and possible team composition.

![Line.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVT6ZAFpiN3LKV24KewpyyTyDpjNbrZiAax577pp4SzdK/Line.jpg)


## India

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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8d/Cricket_India_Crest.svg/265px-Cricket_India_Crest.svg.png">Source</a>

Indian team had 2 successful series victories with away test series against Australia which they won with a margin of 2-1 and they hosted England immediately after that and won the series 3-1 to qualify for the final.

Indian team is already in Southampton after 10 days of quarantine in Mumbai and they have most of their first choice players fit and rearing to go and they have also named few uncapped players as well just in case of any injury concerns.

Indian team will be captained by **Virat Kohli** and **Ajinkya Rahane** will be his deputy.

Full squad for India is:

Rohit Sharma, 
Shubman Gill, 
Mayank Agarwal, 
Cheteshwar Pujara, 
Virat Kohli (Captain), 
Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), 
Hanuma Vihari, 
Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), 
R. Ashwin, 
Ravindra Jadeja, 
Axar Patel, 
Washington Sundar, 
Jasprit Bumrah, 
Ishant Sharma, 
Mohd. Shami, 
Md. Siraj, 
Shardul Thakur, 
Umesh Yadav, 
KL Rahul and 
Wriddhiman Saha.

So, that's a strong 20 member squad for the one off test for the Final of this ICC Test Championship.

Having said that, what will be Indian team composition? Who will make it to playing XI?

These are the questions mostly answered on the First day of the test or may be a day before if both teams decides to name their squad early just like India did in England. But let's try our best to predict the team composition.

![Line.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVT6ZAFpiN3LKV24KewpyyTyDpjNbrZiAax577pp4SzdK/Line.jpg)


#### Team India Openers:

India were forced to use 3 different opening combinations in Australia with **Mayanka Agarwal** - **Prithvi Shaw**, **Mayank Agarwal** - **Shubman Gill** and **Rohit Sharma** - **Shubman Gill** as openers and **Shubman Gill** showed much promise alongside **Rohit Sharma** and these 2 may continue to be the openers in WTC Final.

**Mayank Agarwal**, after his lean patch in Australia, scored some runs in the IPL matches he played and he might be another choice if India wants to use more experience player as partner for **Rohit Sharma**.

![Line.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVT6ZAFpiN3LKV24KewpyyTyDpjNbrZiAax577pp4SzdK/Line.jpg)

#### Team India Middle Order Batsmen:

Middle order for India is one of the strongest with the likes of **Cheteshwar Pujara**, **Virat Kohli**, **Ajinkya Rahane** having been consistent.

These 3 will be automatic choices and if India wants to strengthen their batting with an extra batsman and 4 bowlers combination, then **Hanuma Vihari**, who is already playing for Warwickshire county, may get a nod unless India wants to utilize another allrounder with one of **Ravindra Jadeja** or **Axar Patel**.

![Line.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVT6ZAFpiN3LKV24KewpyyTyDpjNbrZiAax577pp4SzdK/Line.jpg)

#### Team India Wicket Keeper:

Based on his performances in Australia and against England in India, **Rishabh Pant** may be the first choice Wicket Keeper.

India also have **Wridhiman Saha** in their squad who is more sound wicket keeper than **Rishabh Pant** and it will interesting if India goes with him ahead of **Rishabh Pant**.

But most probably, it will be **Rishabh Pant** is what I feel.

![Line.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVT6ZAFpiN3LKV24KewpyyTyDpjNbrZiAax577pp4SzdK/Line.jpg)

#### Team India Bowling Composition:

**Ravichandran Ashwin** will most probably be the lone spinner inspite of fast bowling friendly pitch as his run scoring ability will be crucial for India lower down the order and had there be any spin, he will be even more crucial for his off spin bowling.

As for as fast bowlers, **Jasprit Bumrah**, **Mohammad Shami** and **Ishant Sharma** should be the trio who will be bowling in tandem. 

But, if the pitch is more suited for swing bowling, then one of **Mohammed Siraj** or **Shardul Thakur** may be in the playing XI instead of **Ishant Sharma**.

![Line.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVT6ZAFpiN3LKV24KewpyyTyDpjNbrZiAax577pp4SzdK/Line.jpg)

Given the pitch conditions and India being slow starter outside sub-continent pitches and also for the fact that, New Zealand are already playing in England including 2 Test series they won recently, New Zealand will start as favorites.

Having said that, we can write off India fully given the way they played in Australia and against England.

It will be a good contest between Indian batsmen against one of the best bowling units right now in the World in New Zealand bowling.

I will be stopping this blog now to come back and write a continued part tomorrow to review team New Zealand and their team composition.

Until then, keep writing, keep commenting and be safe.

## <center>Have a wonderful Week ahead :)</center>


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