Amit Mishra, veteran leg-spinner and a member of the Indian Premier League (IPL) side Delhi Capitals, feels that while India playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand “looks great”, a fast-bowling all-rounder could have further strengthened the side.
The first day of the WTC final at Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday was washed out because of rain and players would be hoping to get back to action later on Saturday.
Amit Mishra Thinks India Could Have Named A Fast Bowling All-Rounder In The Playing XI For The WTC Final
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl first against India on Day 2 of the final of the inaugural WTC in Southampton. New Zealand has gone with four specialist fast bowlers and another seam-bowling option in all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme.
“The playing XI looks great. We have Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, two excellent spinners who can also contribute with the bat. Ashwin and Jadeja’s batting skills will help India a lot. I think India could have named a fast-bowling all-rounder in the playing XI, someone who could have bowled six-seven overs when the regular pacers are tired and the ball is swinging,” Mishra told JK 24×7 news.
Noting that the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand had an advantage in this department, Amit Mishra, who has played 22 Tests and taken 76 wickets, said, “I think it would have been better if India included a fast-bowling all-rounder. New Zealand has a fast-bowling all-rounder in their squad, so this is the one advantage that the Blackcaps have.”
Shardul Thakur has what it takes to be the fast-bowling all-rounder that the team has needed ever since Hardik Pandya’s back injury restricted his role with the ball. Hardik Pandya last played Test cricket for India in 2018, during the tour of England. He has been battling a back injury since 2019 and recently, during the IPL, also picked up a shoulder niggle.
The two-Test old Shardul Thakur was mighty impressive in the only longest format game he played in the away series against Australia this year, picking up seven wickets and a half-century to boot in Brisbane.
Amit Mishra: India’s Batting Is Stronger Than The Bowling Unit
Indians are fielding two spinners — Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja– and the pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah in the WTC final. Amit Mishra also said that India’s batting was stronger than its bowling.
“I think India’s batting line-up is stronger than the bowling unit. If you consider the all-rounders, we bat very deep. Only the three fast bowlers do not bat. So, I feel the batting is stronger.”
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra remains a vital cog in the Delhi Capitals’ machinery. The wily leg-spinner, who has the most hat-tricks in the tournament, has 166 IPL wickets against his name. While the injury cut short his IPL 2020 journey, the veteran spinner picked 6 wickets in 4 games averaging 18.16 before contracting the virus as a result of which IPL 2021 was suspended indefinitely. He is the 2nd highest wicket-taker after Lasith Malinga(170 scalps).
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stitched together a 62-run partnership before departing to the New Zealand pacers before Lunch on Day 2. India was placed at 69 runs for the loss of two wickets as players headed back to the pavilion at the end of the first session on Day 2. Rohit Sharma got out for 34 to Kyle Jamieson while Shubman Gill followed him shortly losing his wicket to Neil Wagner after scoring 28 runs.