Monty Panesar Names His India XI For WTC Final; Picks Two Spinners, Omits Mohammed Siraj

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has named his best India XI for the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against New Zealand scheduled for June 18th in Southampton.

While 5 of the top 6 positions are confirmed – Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rishabh Pant – Monty Panesar has excluded the Sydney hero Hanuma Vihari retaining young opener Shubman Gill to partner Sharma.

Gill made his Test debut in Australia and was impressive on his debut tour playing a crucial role in the Brisbane Test victory. Hanuma Vihari, on the other hand, helped India keep the series alive in the Sydney Test, batting with an injury; he has also been in England plying his trade in County cricket.

It was the bowling combination which is debatable. Monty Panesar went with both spinners/all-rounders – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. It has only been seldom where India has played both of them in the same eleven in Tests outside Asia. Considering both of theirs form, the former off-spinner wants to have them feature together.

 “India must play both Jadeja and Ashwin. There is no one better than these two at present in the world. They bowl in partnership, understand each other’s game, and overall they are street-smart cricketers,” Monty Panesar told India Today.

In the pace department, he omitted Mohammed Siraj, who has been brilliant since his debut series Down Under and kept faith in the proven trio of Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami. However, Siraj’s form – in Tests and in the IPL – would make it a difficult choice for the management to bench him, especially in conditions that will suit his bowling.

The Indian team is expected to fly out for England on June 2. New Zealand, on the other hand, has a 2-Test series against Joe Root’s side starting June 2.

Monty Panesar’s India XI for WTC final:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami

Also Read: ICC WTC Final: Michael Vaughan Picks Three Players To Watch Out; Names Two Kiwi Cricketers