In Short
- India are scheduled to play in the final of the WTC 2021-23
- India and Australia will lock horns at the KIA Oval later this year in June
- Sachin Tendulkar said that India have a great chance of winning the final
By India Today Sports DeskSachin Tendulkar said India have a decent chance of winning the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final against Australia to be played in June at the Kennington Oval in London.
Earlier this month, India advanced to the final of the WTC after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by one wicket in the opening Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. India also retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the Nagpur and Delhi Tests, following which they won the series 2-1.
Tendulkar, who is regarded as one of the greats of the game, said that India need to pick the squad keeping in mind the conditions.
FULL COVERAGE OF CONCLAVE 2023
“We have played well and we have a good team, a balanced team. In those conditions, you have to see the overhead conditions and then also, the forecast comes into play. In Test cricket, you will have to understand conditions for the next five days and pick the squad accordingly,” Tendulkar said at the India Today Conclave 2023.
“It would be slightly challenging for a captain to have extra spinners in the team to get the balance right. I am only thinking from India’s point of view, let Australians do what they want to do. We stand a very good chance,” Tendulkar said.
Australia was the first team to book their place in the WTC final after they defeated India by nine wickets in the third Test of the four-match series at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Back in 2021, India played the final of the WTC 2019-21, but lost to Kane Williamson’s New Zealand at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Tendulkar also asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider its decision to ban the use of saliva to shine the ball.
“I am not a medical expert, but saliva on the ball should be back. It has happened for over 100 years and nothing drastic has happened. Yes, the decision was rightly taken in 2020, but that is now behind us. Now, it is something that should be considered,” Tendulkar said.
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