Renowned former England captain, Nasser Hussain, has shared valuable insights on India’s approach in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Hussain believes that India should draw lessons from their past mistakes and be open to the possibility of making strategic changes to their playing XI, including the potential exclusion of one of their top spinners. The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin faced challenges in the previous WTC final as New Zealand emerged victorious in a rain-affected match by eight wickets.
Highlighting the importance of learning from history, Hussain emphasized that India made an error in judgment regarding the conditions in the previous final and should not repeat that mistake this time. As India aims to secure their first ICC title in a decade, Hussain expressed confidence in the team’s ability to adapt to any situation, citing their triumphant campaign in Australia.
Sharing his perspective on the playing conditions at The Oval, Hussain suggested that favorable weather and sunshine would enable a balanced team composition with two spinners, two fast bowlers, and Shardul Thakur as the third fast bowler.
Reflecting on the previous WTC final, Hussain stated that India misread the conditions. The presence of floodlights throughout the match, overcast skies, and chilly weather favored swing and seam bowlers, while New Zealand did not heavily rely on top-tier spinners.
Recalling India’s commendable performances at The Oval, including their victory against England, Hussain highlighted the contributions of Jadeja and Ashwin, who have collectively scored eight Test centuries. Hussain acknowledged Jadeja’s impressive century in India’s last Test match in England in 2022.
Hussain acknowledged the batting depth that Jadeja and Ashwin bring to the team but cautioned against blindly fielding the duo in case of rain and humidity. Depending on the conditions, he suggested that India might need to adjust the team’s balance, a decision they failed to make in the previous WTC final.
The highly-anticipated WTC final is scheduled to commence on Wednesday at The Oval, where India and Australia will lock horns in a battle for cricketing glory. India’s ability to adapt to the prevailing conditions and learn from past experiences will play a crucial role in their quest for victory.
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