According to Ravi Shastri, the absence of Jasprit Bumrah puts India at a disadvantage compared to the formidable Australian pace attack led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in the ICC World Test Championship final. Several key players, including Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul, are unavailable for the title clash due to fitness concerns.

Shastri believes that having Bumrah would have leveled the playing field for India. He stated, “If Bumrah was there, I would say it was equal with an attack of Mohammed Shami, Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. But that Aussie attack with Starc, Cummins, may be the match fitness will come into play,” during the ICC’s ‘Afternoon with Test Legends’ event.

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While acknowledging the advantage of match practice, Ravi Shastri emphasized the importance of competitive matches over net sessions. With Indian players having recently participated in the Indian Premier League for two months, their involvement in the tournament will be beneficial.

“You need some cricket behind you. It’s not the number of overs you bowl or how long you bat, but it’s about staying at the park for six hours. It’s totally different from bowling in the nets for two hours or so. So, it depends on how Australia have prepared. On paper, if you look man to man, they have a slight edge. But that match fitness might be the key,” Ravi Shastri explained.

Identifying Mohammed Shami as a pivotal bowler, Shastri believes that the seasoned campaigner can make an impact in the early stages of the match.

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“Like there is Shami who might just come in and do the damage in the first half an hour because he has been playing so much cricket. He might deny someone from settling in with his line and length,” Ravi Shastri asserted.

India possesses a range of pace options, including Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, and Jaydev Unadkat, for the World Test Championship final.