The WTC Finals Preview – India vs Australia

Imaginations run wild with speculations in the world of cricket, but with a twist. How would it unfold if Dennis Lillee pitched against Sachin Tendulkar or if Pat Cummins tested Virat Kohli on a classic English pitch under the gray English skies? While Lillee versus Tendulkar will always remain an alluring fantasy, we are astonishingly just hours away from witnessing Cummins bowl to Kohli on an authentic English pitch amid an English summer in London.

This momentous occasion marks the second World Test Championship Final, where the two most consistent Test teams from the past couple of years will compete for a title that has eluded both of them. India was at the doorstep of the title two years ago but fell short against a spirited New Zealand side in Southampton, while Australia couldn’t even make it to the party. Both finalists have embarked on diverse journeys to reach this juncture. India, under Rohit Sharma’s guidance, has been busy reshaping their squad post the end of the Kohli captaincy era. On the other hand, Australia, under Cummins’ leadership, has been strengthening their ranks after parting ways with Tim Paine.

This championship match might not yet exude the ‘ultimate Test’ vibes that many have built it up to be due to the placement of the match itself and the setting. However, the fact that it is scheduled to take place at The Oval in early June, a time fraught with unpredictability, adds an element of mystery and intrigue to how the match will proceed.

Despite not having won a Test series against India in nearly a decade, Australia has the chance to topple their modern-day rivals before they square off against their traditional adversaries.

The stage is set at The Oval, England. The last few days in London have epitomized the classic unpredictability of June in England. Despite the fluctuating weather, rains have not been a concern, and it is expected to remain the same over the next five days, promising an undisturbed game. The pitch, appearing increasingly brown as we near the start date, will be a paradise for the batsmen and is expected to provide decent bounce and carry.

India Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin/Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav/Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj

Australia Probable XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c)Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon

Both Australia and India are stepping onto the battlefield with well-thought-out strategies and unwavering determination. There are speculations and anticipations about the final teams and how the pitch will behave. As the clock ticks down to the showdown, the palpable excitement among fans across the globe escalates. All eyes are now on The Oval, where this fascinating fantasy matchup will unfold and make history.