WTC Ramblings
I'm traveling right now and I have exhausted the "two hour sleep" of the journey already and feeling fresh AF. Time to ramble about WTC final, huddle up.
It's WTC final day. While the buildup to the one off test has been quite brillant between the teams. Rohit and Co are looking to inject the non-existent positivity in the fans while the dominant Aussies are focused and the ever cocky fans have their tails up even before the toss.
Firstly, WTC is a shamble tournament. There are several things wrong and the same is the reason why I cannot consider this in equal to a world cup or champions trophy. An ICC tournament is when all the participating teams play equal number of matches in similar conditions and the better teams play for the trophy in the final. WTC scheduling has been piss poor with certain teams getting extra home advantage (NZ progressed to WTC final in the last cycle solely 'cause they played many home matches) while some teams are tormented to play tough overseas tours. Adding to this, the number of games as well is not equal between, to hide this facade ICC came up with "win percentage" calculation.
The next complaint is the opponents for the teams are random and where they play as well has been bizarre. The teams should be divided in groups and are made to play each other in a WTC cycle and swap in the next cycle to bring a fairness.
The league stage possess these many complaints and the final isn't shy of it as well. Usually, ICC tournaments have only one final match to decide the winner but this is test format. Every team are playing each other a series to progress to the final then why is the final be just a one-off test. India got the bad of it last time as the rain hit test favoured the Kiwis who ended up winning the championship. Like the league stage matches which are 2/3/4 match series, the final as well should have a series(3 match preferably) to decide the winner. Hell, we used to have 3 match deciders for VB series up till 2012 if am not wrong.
ICC complaints over, it's time to bicker about my favourite ICT. I know we haven't won anything (turning into RCB of ICC) in the last 10 years but I have never felt low in confidence while entering a championship(final) like I feel for this WTC.
The daunting english condition possess a serious threat to India than Aussie who are packed with 4 best bowlers they can while we are left to scrap with whoever's left. While the condition itself possess a huge challenge, the machine like bowling attack of Cummins, Starc and Boland are an added headache.
Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, 4 major players are missing from the team due to injuries. I really wish atleast one of Bumrah and Pant were available for the game. The impetus that Pant provides with batting is second to none in the team while Bumrah is a magician when he's on rhythm who can do wonders.
We will mostly be playing Rohit, Gill, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, KS Bharat, Jadeja, Ashwin/Shardul(Shardul most likely), Unadkat, Shami and Siraj. The bowling attack with Shami and Siraj is capable enough but is it relentless enough is the big question. Aussies possess a good solid batting attack that requires a sort of requires a relentless attack to bowl out, I would say 50-50 at the moment for India to bowl them out.
The batting does look solid(not based on the numbers but based on the experience) but all it takes is one good spell from either of the pacers to put us under "45 minutes of bad play". The temperament and calmness is the key to overcome the Aussies and the English condition. The batters have hardly risen up in challenging test condition in the recent past, really hope that's not the case tomorrow.
Wrapping it up, the road ahead looks bleak for Ro and co the next 5 days. With odds stacked up against us, the WTC final does throw a slight resemblance to the famous Gabba test in 2021. We won the test and series in 2021, wish we win this WTC final and win that elusive ICC trophy that's been slipping for a decade now.
#WTCFinal
