WTC Final: Sanjay Manjrekar picks India’s playing XI, leaves out Ravindra Jadeja

India’s former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has picked the Virat Kohli-led team’s playing XI for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. Manjrekar has left out all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma in the final XI of the team.

The renowned commentator has gone with an extra batsman in Hanuma Vihari as the Indian team hasn’t had a lot of time to prepare for the big match. Manjrekar has picked Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma as the openers of the side.

Cheteshwar Pujara bats at one down whereas skipper Virat Kohli takes his usual number four position. The team’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will bat at number five for Manjrekar whereas Vihari takes the number six slot. India’s wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant bats at number seven for the commentator.

Ravichandran Ashwin is the solitary spinner for the cricket expert whereas Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj constitute the pace battery of the team.

Manjrekar said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, “I’m assuming you have typical English conditions. I’m assuming there will be a mixture of sun and cloudy cover throughout the five days of the Test match if it goes the distance. So I’m picking the team accordingly.”

“Going to have Hanuma Vihari to reward him for his brilliant innings before he got injured. India will need somebody with more compact defensive technique. Because the guys at the top of the order barring Pujara aren’t those kind. So I will have Hanuma Vihari at number 6. Pant at 7, considering India have hardly had any practice game. I just want to make sure the batting runs deep.”

“Want Siraj, the swing bowler to be brought into the equation and the last time Siraj bowled overseas in Australia, got a five wicket haul. Hard to leave a bowler like him out. You will be tempted to think of Siraj because when you look at Shami Bumrah and Ishant, they are more seam bowlers, hit the deck kind of bowler. Siraj might offer something different. I would go with Siraj. But India might play Ishant for obvious reasons.”

Sanjay Manjrekar’s playing XI for WTC final: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.