‘Bumrah kaun?’-Fans react as Ravi Shastri talks about impact of Jasprit Bumrah’s absence ahead of WTC 2023 final
India lost the 2021 World Test Championship final to New Zealand.
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Jun 5, 2023 11:44 am
Ravi Shastri (Source: Twitter)
The World Test Championship final is due to start on 7th June. It was held at the Oval in England. The dukes ball will be used for the game. India and Australia will play the marquee clash as they are the top two teams in the WTC. India will be playing their second final and for Australia, it will be their first. India lost the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand which was held in Edgbaston.
Ahead of the big match, when the experts were asked about who the better-prepared side is of the two going to the final, Ravi Shastri said, “I would say if you look at pace attack, if Bumrah was there, I would say it was equal with an attack of Mohammed Shami, Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. But that Aussie attack with Starc, Cummins, maybe the match fitness that will come into play,” He said at the Cricket Governing Body’s ‘Afternoon with Test Legends’ event.
Conditions at the Oval are more in favour of Australia – Wasim Akram
The Test legends lineup featured the likes of Ricky Ponting, Shastri, Ross Taylor and Wasim Akram. They had different points of view as to who were the better side going into the big clash. While Shastri believed that India will be match fit and in a better rhythm as they are coming from a long season of the Indian Premier League. Ricky Ponting was a little confused as to whether coming in fresh or having played matches before a big clash was the way to go.
“Match fitness might come into play,” Shastri opined.” You need some cricket behind you and staying in the park for six hours for five days is different from bowling in nets for two hours every day,” he said. “Shami might be key as he has been playing a lot of cricket,” Shastri added. Shastri was the coach of the Indian Team when they played the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand.
Akram also echoed Shastri’s views saying, “In Oval, you play a Test match either in last week of August or during first or second week of September when the pitch is bone dry. But this time it’s a fresh pitch and it’s early June. Akram said. “You look at this venue, it is more like an Aussie venue than an English. Conditions slightly favour Australia,” He added.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Since Bumrah isn't there, India have made a huge mistake by not taking Ishant Sharma.
Hold on @RaviShastriOfc It was an attack of Shardul and Siraj that unstabled Aussies at Gabba..9 wickets amongst two .. same will happen here at Oval too..
What will be the use of 2 seamers in England ? Keep 1 seamer or no seamer. There should be 3/4 swing based bowlers with 1 left hander. We lost cz of same reason last time… there was huge diff in swing degree deviations between Ind and Nzl pacers.
— Priyam (Modi Ka Pariwar) (@___priyam2) June 4, 2023
