India’s preparation for WTC Final in 2023 in England

India's preparation for WTC Final in 2023 in England

The World Test Championship (WTC) is a prestigious tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to determine the world’s top-ranked Test cricket team. The WTC is held over a two-year cycle, with teams earning points based on their performance in Test matches during that period. The top two teams in the points table then qualify for the WTC final, where they compete for the title of Test cricket world champions. The WTC 2023 edition is scheduled to take place in England, with the final match set to be held at the Oval in London from June 7 to June 11, 2023. The two teams that will compete in the final are India and Australia. Lets have a look at the preparations of Indian Cricket team for the tournament.

On May 25, the official Twitter handle of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared images of the Indian players and support staff, led by coach Rahul Dravid, as they began their training sessions. Players such as Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur were seen donning the new training jerseys provided by their sponsor, Adidas.

The team’s new sponsor wasted no time and had already sent the training kits to London, which the BCCI proudly displayed on their social media. The initial batch of players and coaching staff, including Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravichandran Ashwin, have already arrived in London to kickstart their preparations. The stage is set for an exciting clash between India and Australia in the WTC final.

The remaining Indian players are expected to join the team in London once the IPL 2023 Final concludes on May 28. This early arrival in the UK provides an excellent opportunity for the team to address any injury concerns and work on their fitness. Shardul Thakur is right now recuperating from a physical issue, while Umesh Yadav is as yet endeavoring to accomplish full wellness. Furthermore, Jaydev Unadkat is in the process of recovering from a shoulder injury, which the team will monitor closely. A fortunate aspect for Team India is that their captain, Virat Kohli, will enter the WTC final well-rested, as his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, failed to qualify for the playoffs.

The entire Indian team is set to assemble on May 30 after the conclusion of the IPL 2023. Rohit Sharma, in particular, is expected to join the team promptly once he fulfills his commitments with the Mumbai Indians. The Mumbai Indians are scheduled to compete against the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 Eliminator on Friday.

However, one significant setback for the Indian team is the absence of warm-up matches. While the Indian players in the WTC squad have been involved in competitive cricket, the lack of practice games in England may hinder their ability to adjust to the conditions effectively. Warm-up matches are valuable for acclimatizing to the pitch, weather, and other factors specific to English conditions, and their absence could pose a challenge for the Indian team.

In conclusion, Team India has begun their preparations for the WTC final against Australia in England. The players and coaching staff have arrived in London, and the team’s focus will be on addressing any injury concerns and fine-tuning their skills. The absence of warm-up matches might present a challenge, but the Indian team’s talent and determination will be instrumental in their pursuit of victory in the WTC final.