Mohammad Kaif named his playing XI for the WTC final, chose Ishan Kishan over Bharat.

The World Test Championship final is just days away, and the selected Indian players are training in England as the cash-rich IPL is over now and CSK came out champions for the fifth time. Rohit Sharma and Co. would be facing Australia in the final of the WTC 2023, and this time they would be focusing on ending the ICC trophy drought as the Indian team won the last ICC title in 2013. The team won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni, but since then there has been no luck for the team to lift an ICC title, though under Virat Kohli’s leadership the team reached the finals of the WTC 2021 but lost to New Zealand.

According to Mohammad Kaif, Ishan Kishan is a better option to go for as the left-handed batter has a playing style like Rishabh Pant, and India is going to need someone who can score quick runs in the middle order. Rishabh Pant is not going to play this year as the left-handed batter is recovering from the injuries he sustained in the car accident last year. Mohammad Kaif shared his insights on what India’s playing XI should be while speaking to Star Sports.

“For the World Test Championship, the openers should be Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, followed by Pujara who plays at number three and has experience there. At number four would be Virat Kohli followed by Rahane who makes his return to the team. I would play Ishan Kishan over KS Bharat because you would want someone to play attacking shots at number six. Rishabh Pant used to play that role once the ball got old”

“At seven, I will play Jadeja and at eight I would either play Ashwin or Shardul, depending on the pitch conditions, and if the pitch suits spin then Ashwin can target the left-handed batsmen like Warner, Travis Head and Khawaja, so it will be a good match up. I would take fast bowlers, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj followed by Umesh Yadav at number 11. This would be my preferred playing 11 because it’s early June, you will need three fast bowlers plus Jadeja and Ashwin or Shardul, depending on the forecast,” 

Mohammad Kaif told Star Sports

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