The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has begun preparations for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, which will take place at The Oval in June. The board is in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board to organise a three-day practice game, and the selectors are debating whether to maintain KL Rahul as the wicket-keeper following an unsatisfactory performance by KS Bharat in Rishabh Pant’s absence.
KL Rahul, the fired vice-captain, is expected to maintain wickets in the WTC Final to justify his selection. Suryakumar Yadav is also being considered as an enforcer in the middle order if Shreyas Iyer is unable to make it in time for the final. But, KL Rahul’s keeper duties will be decided during the IPL 2023. The selectors want to keep a check on how Rahul holds up due to his history of ailments. KL Rahul is expected to maintain wickets if he passes with flying colours. KL Rahul, on the other hand, has never kept a wicket in a Test.
KS With Rishabh Pant‘s absence, Bharat did not aid his case with the bat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Instead, the selectors want him to continue developing in future Tests, while Rahul is expected to play in the one-off WTC Final. Having Rahul maintain wickets will free up a spot in the starting Lineup. Axar Patel is a good additional batter for India. India will be represented by Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat in the bowling department, with one of them playing in the final.
The team for the WTC Final will be announced in April by the BCCI Selection Committee, captained by Shiv Sunder Das. When New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka in the first Test, India qualified for the WTC Final, trailing Australia. Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, is uncertain for the match due to a back ailment. Shreyas Iyer did not bat in the fourth Test after being ruled out of the ODI series.
