Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar counter-attacked many experts’ claims of Australia starting as the favourites over India in the much anticipated World Test Championship final, starting here on Wednesday at Kennington Oval. Many experts including former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram gave the Baggy Greens a slight edge going into the historic finals.
Indian Players had week-long practice following the completion of the cash-rich league and the players will look to transfer their white-ball cricket form into the red-ball cricket. Meanwhile, most of the Australian players opted to rest during the IPL, with few taking part in the county championship to get themselves prepared for the WTC final and Ashes 2023.
Speaking on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar believes that every player would wish to have some cricket behind them coming into big matches like this, as most Australian players have done nothing over the last two months, whereas the Indian players have played highly competitive cricket, which could help them come better leading into the contest and reckons that lot of things would be known over this week.
“The interesting thing as far as preparation is concerned is that some of the Australians have done nothing. They haven’t been playing any cricket at all. At least, all the Indian guys have been playing very competitive cricket in the IPL.
“So coming in fresh without any cricket, is that better or is it coming in maybe slightly jaded and slightly tired on the back of an IPL but having played a lot of cricket leading in? So there are lots of factors that could show up through the course of this week,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, and Alex Carey would walk into the match, not having enough amount of game time behind them, whereas Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have prepared themselves to play the county championship, with David Warner and Cameron Green playing the high-octane IPL 2023.
I Will Give The Edge To India, Pujara Was Scoring Centuries For Fun – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar believes that India has an edge over the Australians, as the disagreed with the fact that the conditions would favour the Australian players and reckons that resting before big tournaments likes WTC, would never be an advantage, as the players need an ample amount of practice to compete at the highest level and highlighted that star Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara was scoring hundreds for fun in county championship playing for Sussex in 2023 season.
“I will give the edge to India. I don’t agree with the fact that the conditions favour Australia. Neither is the fact that some of the Australians have been resting going to be an advantage.
“For a big match, you need miles under your feet. And most of the Indian players have done that. Even one player who was not in the IPL, Pujara was playing County Cricket and was scoring centuries for fun. So yes, the Indians are in a better position,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
Cheteshwar Pujara would be a vital player for the Indian team against the formidable Australian bowling attack, as he would try to hold on one end to score some important runs for his side and would look to form some partnership in the middle alongside Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.