5 Indian players who may miss out in the World Test Championship (WTC) final playing XI against New Zealand

Team India scripted a memorable victory against England in the four-match Test series by 3-1 by winning the final Test by an innings and 25 runs at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium. With this victory, India also managed to book a berth for themselves in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship against New Zealand at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, scheduled from June 18 to June 22. The Men in Blue also leapfrogged the Kiwis to regain the top spot in the Test team rankings by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Test series between India and England involved a lot of drama and controversies. Meanwhile, India also explored their bench strength and discovered the players who have the charisma of making it big in the international circuit. Throughout the Test series against England and Australia, India witnessed many youngsters stepping up to the occasion and performing for the team.

While the excellent performances ensured that India have competent bench strength in the purest format, it also adds to the confusion of the team-management on whom to select for the playing XI of the World Test Championship final. There are chances that some star Indian players might miss playing the final despite delivering some extraordinary performances.

In this article, let’s take a look at 5 Indian players who may miss out in the WTC final playing XI:

1. Hardik Pandya

In recent times, Indian swashbuckling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has emerged as a match-winner for the Men in Blue as he can produce match-defining knocks with the willow and finish games for the team in the limited-overs formats. However, due to his back injury, the all-rounder isn’t keen on bowling and that can act as a barrier to his inclusion in the Test playing XI.

Since his Test debut on July 26, 2017, against Sri Lanka, the right-hander has amassed 532 runs at an average of 31.3 along with scalping 17 wickets at an economy rate of 3.38 and an average of 31.1. However, despite the good numbers, Hardik hasn’t featured in a Test match since August 2018 as the team-management is looking forward to playing an all-rounder in the lower-order instead of a specialist batsman.

As the final of the marquee event is scheduled in 2021 June, it is unlikely for Hardik to be 100% fit to bowl 10 to 12 overs a day in the Test match and he is likely to miss out in the WTC final playing XI.

2. Shardul Thakur

Indian right-arm bowler who also has the ability to contribute with the willow in the lower-order, Shardul Thakur, delivered an above-average impressive performance in the last Test he had played for India against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. After a series of injuries especially in the bowling-unit, India were forced to make some key changes in their playing XI during the last Test of the four-match series against Australia.

This had resulted in Shardul Thakur playing his second Test match after making his Test debut for India on October 12, 2018, against West Indies. Shardul delivered a phenomenal performance in Australia as he ended up with 7 wickets across two including a three-wicket haul in the first innings followed by 4 scalps in the second.

The batsman was equally impressive with the willow too as he had played a blistering knock of 67 runs in India’s first-batting innings and had stitched a crucial partnership with Washington Sundar to save the team from a collapse. However, the chances of the pacer making it to the WTC playing XI are slim as India are likely to favour Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami as frontline pacers with Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav as a back-up.

3. Axar Patel

There is probably no-one as happy as wily spin all-rounder Axar Patel with India’s brilliant win in the Test series against England. Axar is living a fairytale as the left-arm orthodox spinner had a dream debut in the purest format of the game. The spinner had to give the first Test at Chennai a miss as he succumbed to an injury but he finally earned his debut Test cap in the second Test at the same venue.

Included in the playing XI as a potential replacement of injured Ravindra Jadeja, Axar delivered a value-for-money performance as he scalped Joe Root as his first international Test wicket and ended up with two scalps in the first innings. This was followed by the spinner registering his maiden five-wicket haul in the last innings of the game.

This was just a start for Axar as playing in his home ground in Ahemdabad, the local boy gave nightmares to the visiting England team and returned with a whopping 11 wickets including two five-wicket hauls in the pink-ball Test. This also resulted in Patel earning his maiden Man of the Match award. All in all, after the fourth Test, the 27-year-old has 27 wickets under his belt in three fixtures. 

But the return of Ravindra Jadeja can result in Axar sitting on the bench during the World Test Championship final as India are unlikely to bench their go-to-man Ravi Ashwin if they decide to go with two spin options.

4. Washington Sundar

The Indian left-handed batsman and right-arm off-spin bowler, Washington Sundar, has hogged all the limelight for quite some time now. Just like, Shardul Thakur, Sundar was a forced change in India’s line-up in the fourth Test against Australia. In his debut match itself, the all-rounder managed to impress the who’s who of the cricket fraternity with his stunning performance both with the ball and willow.

Along with picking four wickets across two innings, he returned with scores of 62 and 22. This resulted in Sundar playing three games out of the four Test matches against England in India. The 21-year-old was again at his fluent best throughout the series. He was the main man alongside Rishabh Pant behind India’s victory in the last Test as he played a sublime knock of 96* runs to take the team over the finishing line.

However, owing to the harsh competition in the spin all-rounder’s department, Sundar might not get a place in the playing XI of the WTC final. India are already equipped with spinners like Axar Patel, Ravi Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja, who all have done slightly better with the ball in their hand for the team.

5. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

There is no one better in the Indian contingent than Indian right-arm quick Bhuvneshwar Kumar who knows how to swing the ball even in batting-friendly conditions. Despite having abundant talent, the veteran can miss the golden opportunity of playing in the WTC final as he has been out of India’s Test Team for quite some time due to sustaining multiple injuries and undergoing surgeries in the past three years.

The Meerut stalwart has the ability to make the world sit up and notice his talent and skillset. Since his Test debut in 2013 against Australia, the 31-year-old has represented the Men in Blue in 21 Test fixtures scalping a whopping 63 wickets at an economy rate of 2.94 and an average of 26.1.

However not playing a Test match since January 2018 has resulted in Bhuvneshwar fading away from the minds of selectors and the captain. India are expected to favour Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami as their three frontline pacers with Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav as back-ups.