I've not said that Ashwin is not going to play, we'll wait because the pitch changes quite a bit day to day: Rohit Sharma

Ahead of the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, team India skipper Rohit Sharma opened up about Ravichandran Ashwin's inclusion in the playing XI, revealing that the team has not got to any decision yet. The summit clash between India and Australia will be played at The Oval in London beginning on June 7, Wednesday.

Ahead of the one-off Test, skipper Rohit Sharma said that he has not given any verdict on veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's inclusion in the playing XI. However, he did not reveal much about the team combination, stating that it will be decided tomorrow based on the pitch conditions. The 36-year-old added that the surface of The Oval changes quite a bit day to day.

"I've not said that Ashwin is not going to play. We'll wait until tomorrow - because one thing I have seen here - the pitch actually changes quite a bit day to day," Rohit said during the pre-match press conference.

He went on to say that if the pitch is looking better one day, the next day it might be slightly different. He then urged each and every person of the 15-member squad to be ready to play under challenging situations.

"Today it's looking the way it is. Tomorrow it might be slightly different, who knows. So the message to the boys has been very clear, all 15 must be ready to play at any point in time," he added.

With the overhead conditions as well, it's going to assist seamers a fair bit: Sharma

The India captain further feels the pitch will favour the seamers a fair bit. Rohit added that as the game progresses, the pitch might get better and better, slower and slower so they will decide the playing XI accordingly.

"I saw it (pitch) yesterday, I didn't have a chance to see it today. But yeah, it looks a bit of help for the seamers definitely. With the overhead conditions as well, it's going to assist seamers a fair bit. I don't know how drastically but the pitch changes quite a bit in this part of the world. Like, when we played the last test match here in Oval, it looked very similar to this," he said.

"And then as the game went on, as the day went on, it got better and better, slower and slower. And the reverse swing came into play as well on day 5th. So, yeah, we're going to consider all of those factors (before deciding eleven)," Rohit concluded.