Team India will fight with Australia for the coveted World Test Championship (WTC) Final, starting from June 7-11 at The Oval in London. While Australia featured in the WTC Final for the first time, India reached the tournament’s summit clash for the second time. Two years ago, India suffered a heartbreak, losing to Kane Williamson-led New Zealand in the first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2021. Meanwhile, former India player Ravi Shastri, who was India’s head coach back when they locked horns with the Kiwis in inaugural WTC Final, has come up with an interesting suggestion on the side’s bowling lineup.

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Shastri feels that in absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India might be inclined on including two spinners.

“India did very well in England last time round because you had Bumrah, you had Shami, you had Shardul Thakur, and you had Mohammed Siraj. So you had four fast bowlers. One being an all-rounder there, Shardul,” Shastri said in ICC Review.

“That combination is a very good combination in England. Especially from India’s point of view. It allows someone like Rohit Sharma to control the game far better. At times in England, you need to slow it down as well. And suddenly it can get overcast.

“You have got horses for courses, you’ve got all bases covered. But then if the quality is not good in your fast-bowling attack. If you think the guys are older, they are not as quick as they used to be, and the form is a little doubtful, then you play that second spinner because Ashwin is quality, as is Jadeja,” Shastri explained.

Shastri feels India can pick senior bowler R Ashwin as the only specialist spinner and use spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to bat at No 6.

“If the track is hard and dry, you would want two spinners to play for sure. I think it goes a lot with the weather in England. I believe it’s sunny now at the moment, but you know, English weather, how it can change in the month of June,” Shastri said.

“So there’s a very good chance India will go with two spinners, two fast bowlers and an all-rounder. That will be the combination. And then there’ll be five batsmen and the wicket-keeper, so six batsmen.

“So if all conditions stay normal at The Oval, then this would be my combination, but you’ve got to have the quality to be able to put those guys out in the park.”