India is all set to take on Australia in the World Test Championship final at the Oval on June 7. The Indian team is hoping for a long-awaited ICC title as well. Although India have dominated Australia in recent times, their record in ICC finals is not at all good. Also, India won’t get the service of some of their key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul due to injuries. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, has not been in great form whereas Ajinkya Rahane is making a comeback to the team. Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill will also hold the key for India in the all-important match.
“Virat Kohli was asked a lot of questions in England in 2014 and 2021 by [Jimmy] Anderson, [Stuart] Broad and the rest of the English bowlers. They bowled some excellent lines and lengths to him in conditions that suited them. They knew he is the best, and lifted themselves when bowling to him. To think or say that the Australians will be able to do the same from ball one is not correct. The English know their own conditions better than anyone else in the world. And Virat loves to bat against the Australians. We have seen that in Australia,” Greg Chappell said at ‘Backstage with Boria’
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“His record is evidence of how good he is. He loves a contest and is never one to back off from one. The Oval, from all of my experience, is going to have bounce and it will suit Virat. You have said to me that the weather has stayed dry so far. If the weather continues to stay dry, The Oval is as close to an Australian wicket in England as you will ever get. And that will suit Virat. I think if he is mentally switched on, like I have said to you earlier in the conversation, he will get runs for India. He is a very good player and someone who can make a telling difference,” he further added.
However, Greg Chappell also opened up on Rohit Sharma’s form and said that his IPL performance will not affect his WTC preparations as well.
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“Coming to Rohit, yes, I totally agree the IPL is different. The weather, the conditions, the format, everything is different. And it is not about what you or I or anyone else feels about his form. It is all about what Rohit feels. Does he have any self-doubt? Or he is feeling good about going out there and batting? If he is in a good zone as he steps out, there is no question he will bat well. Yes, questions will be asked of him by good bowlers bowling good balls, but that’s no different for Rohit compared to any other batter. If he is in a good mind space, IPL form will not matter in this Test match,” Greg Chappell concluded.
