Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma did not make it to Sanjay Manjrekar’s Playing XI for the WTC final.
Sanjay Manjrekar Picks Indian Team For WTC Final, Includes Hanuma Vihari
There were two selections by Sanjay Manjrekar that might go against popular belief as predicted by fans and experts alike. The former India batsman decided to drop spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and pick Ravichandran Ashwin as the sole spinner provided the conditions in England are nothing out of the ordinary.
“I’m assuming you have typical English conditions. I’m assuming there will be a mixture of sun and cloudy cover throughout the five days of the Test match if it goes the distance. So, I’m picking the team accordingly,” Manjrekar said in an ESPNCricinfo video.
The former Mumbai cricketer decided to pick India’s XI with only four bowlers. He picked Test specialist batsman Hanuma Vihari in his XI instead of Ravindra Jadeja to provide extra cushion to the batsmen.
“Going to have Hanuma Vihari to reward him for his brilliant innings before he got injured. India will need somebody with a more compact defensive technique. Because the guys at the top of the order, barring Pujara, aren’t those kinds.
“So, I will have Hanuma Vihari at number 6. Pant at 7, considering India has hardly had any practice game. I just want to make sure the batting runs deep,” Manjrekar added.
There were no surprises in the top five. Sanjay Manjrekar went in with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the openers with Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane taking the No. 3, 4, and 5 spots respectively.
Hanuma Vihari’s last India outing was in the Sydney Test against Australia, where his epic four-hour vigil (23 not out), with a torn hamstring alongside Ravichandran Ashwin, saved the game for the visiting team. He made his Test debut for India in September 2018 and has played 12 Tests. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler.
Sanjay Manjrekar Picks Mohammed Siraj Instead Of Ishant Sharma
“Want Siraj, the swing bowler to be brought into the equation, and the last time Siraj bowled overseas in Australia, [he] got a five-wicket haul. Hard to leave a bowler like him out. You will be tempted to think of Siraj because when you look at Shami, Bumrah, and Ishant, they are more seam bowlers, hit-the-deck kind of bowlers.
“Siraj might offer something different. I would go with Siraj, but India might play Ishant for obvious reasons,” he added.
While having Ishant Sharma is a must in Australia for his height and the bounce he generates, in England, Virat Kohli may opt for a little more variety and bring in Mohammed Siraj. The Hyderabad-based pacer has done wonders in the last few months.
He has troubled England batsmen on lifeless Indian pitches while bowling match-winning figures in Australia as he spearheaded the pace attack and was India’s highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s playing XI for WTC final:
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.