India suffered a crushing 209-run defeat against Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval on Sunday. After winning the toss, Australia took advantage of the overcast conditions and posted a commanding total of 469 in their first innings, with Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121) leading the charge.
In response, India could only manage 296 in their first innings, conceding a significant lead of 173 runs. Australia then declared their second innings at 270/8, setting a daunting target of 444 runs for India to chase in the final innings. Unfortunately, India’s batting lineup failed to withstand the pressure and crumbled for 234 on the fifth day of the match.
The conclusion of the WTC 2021-23 cycle has sparked discussions about potential changes in the Indian Test squad. Dinesh Karthik, in an interview with Cricbuzz, was asked about the need for a squad revamp and whether the absence of key players affected India’s performance in the final.
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Karthik responded, saying, “I think a bit of both. In many ways, we know that a lot of them are in their mid-30s. So, there are a few questions for Rahul Dravid about who he wants to keep and who he wants to move forward with.” He acknowledged the significance of players like Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, stating that Iyer deserves a place in the team due to his contributions during the cycle.
Dinesh Karthik also suggested potential inclusions in the Test squad, mentioning the impressive performances of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan in the domestic circuit. He also raised the question of introducing new medium pacers like Mukesh Kumar and providing them with a two-year cycle to establish themselves.
Addressing the weaknesses in India’s bowling department, Dinesh Karthik said, “Let’s be very honest. I think Shami and Siraj were very good. But Umesh and Shardul as bowlers weren’t as effective as Dravid and Rohit would have thought it to be. So, yes, Shardul contributed with the bat, but I would think more of him as a bowler who can bat.”
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The defeat in the WTC final has prompted discussions about the future direction of the Indian Test squad, with a focus on potential changes, the inclusion of promising talents, and addressing the shortcomings in the bowling lineup. Tough decisions lie ahead for the team management as they analyze and plan for the next edition of the championship.
