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Xtra Time Web Desk: The Indian team had a poor show so far in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 against Australia. The star-studded Indian batting line up failed to live up to the expectation on Day 2 of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship final here at the Oval. Rohit and his boys are 151/5 at stumps on Day 2 after Australia posted a mammoth 469 in the first innings.
There are several reasons for India’s poor performance. First and foremost is the failure of the Indian top order who looked totally out of sorts here at the Oval. Except for the dismissal of Virat Kohli, all the other batters got out to poor judgement.
The Indian pacers have also failed to hit the right length on the Oval strip. Umesh Yadav has not justified his selection in the playing XI. Remember, the Indian team management went in with an extra seamer at the expense of Ravichandran Ashwin.
Third and most important reason was the lack of preparation ahead of such an important final. Yes, the Indians did arrive here in UK early in batches but the preparations were not good enough though. Almost all the players in the test squad except Pujara were coming after playing IPL matches. So, it was difficult to adjust from one format to another.
The Indian cricket board must throw its weight around, lobbying for a change in the scheduling of the WTC final. However much the Indian batters are criticized for underperforming with the bat at the Oval, the truth is that even the greatest of batter would have found it difficult to come and perform in English conditions against the moving ball after two months of IPL.
During the last WTC Final in 2021, New Zealand were better prepared as they were in England playing a two test match series. And that helped them get accustomed to the pace, bounce and lateral movement on offer in Southampton, and it was no surprise that they used the experience to their advantage.
The Australians too have been practicing with the red ball in Brisbane while most of the Indian players who are here were busy playing the IPL play-offs.
This is why the BCCI needs step in. A small tweak to the schedule that moves the WTC final closer to the end of the English summer would allow the batters to do justice to such an opportunity.
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By: XtraTime
Title: WTC Final 2023: Scheduling of IPL one of the main reasons for poor show by Team India
Sourced From: xtratime.in/wtc-final-2023-scheduling-of-ipl-one-of-the-main-reasons-for-poor-show-by-team-india/
Published Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2023 07:32:51 +0000
