As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season is reaching its end, attention is shifting to the World Test Championship final scheduled to be held between Team India and Australia in London next month. In order to ensure the players reach the venue as soon as possible, the BCCI has already dispatched the first batch of players for the red-ball clash. The batch comprises big names such as Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, and more. Thakur shared a picture of the group leaving and captioned it, “Outbound.”
National duty calling!
: IG/Shardul Thakur pic.twitter.com/To8jmTdIRF
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 23, 2023
Reports earlier suggested that Virat Kohli took off for London after Royal Challengers Bangalore’s defeat to the Gujarat Titans on the last day of the IPL. However, there has been no confirmation on whether he has left or when he is scheduled to travel. Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara has already reached England after delivering an admirable performance for Sussex in County Cricket. He will be accompanied by Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, K S Bharat, and Ajinkya Rahane, who will join the squad on concluding their IPL commitments.
India’s appearance at the upcoming WTC final will be its second entry into the prestigious event. In the 2021 final at Lord’s, the team lost to Kane Williamson’s New Zealand. A win in the final will not only provide redemption but also secure India’s first ICC trophy since their triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
India squad for WTC final
The Indian squad for WTC final includes Rohit Sharma as captain, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, and Ishan Kishan (wk). The standby players are Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, and Suryakumar Yadav.