WAS INDIA RIGHT IN NOT PLAYING MOHAMMED SIRAJ FOR THE WTC FINAL?
India's pace attack was perfect for the WTC final
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The conditions at Southampton favour bowlers who can generate swing. With Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma capable of generating swing and extracting ample bounce from the surface, the think-tank felt two bowlers with lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah would be good enough.
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Adding to this, Ishant also had the best bowling average in the WTC league phase, making him the first-choice pick over Siraj. The experience he brings to the side makes him an asset, which would have been one of the key factors in the selection process.
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Ishant's inclusion in the playing XI was justified by the 3 wickets he picked up in the first innings. On the other hand, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja give nothing away and usually manage to grab wickets irrespective of the surface and conditions. This is why they were chosen over Siraj.
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Where did India go wrong in the WTC?
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Team India's batting in the WTC final against the New Zealand was shoddy. Considering that Indian batsmen faltered in both innings, the goal was far too below par to even create some sort of a challenge for the Kiwi batting unit in a major final.
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India could have also gone for another extra batsman to bat deep in the innings. Ravindra Jadeja's inclusion in the team may have been due to the fact that he could bat. However, a specialist batsman would have been more adept and a logical move by the India team.
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Much of India's confidence in their batting stems from the world-class lineup they have. They had been superb, especially in the series Down Under last year. However, an extra batsman for the WTC final would have bolstered their chances of winning the all-important ICC fixture.
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