ICC World Test Championship Final: 3 Indian Bowlers Who Can Become Highest Wicket Takers

We are just over a month away from the much-awaited ICC World Test Championship final between Virat Kohli’s Team India and Kane Williamson’s New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

The BCCI, on Friday, announced the 20-men strong squad for both the assignments and as expected the bowling unit looks as solid as ever.

In Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Shardul Thakur, India have enough pace options while the spin-department is also well served with the presence of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.

So, on that note, here’s a look at 3 Indian Bowlers who can become the highest wicket-takers in the WTC final:

Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma has been at the peak of his powers in Test cricket in the last 3-4 years and the numbers reflect that to the hilt.

Despite having missed out on the Australian series, Ishant still finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker for India in the ICC World Test Championship cycle.

The veteran pacer claimed as many as 36 wickets in 20 innings at an average of 17.36 which also includes three five-wicket hauls.

Ishant Sharma enjoyed bowling in Southampton during the only outing that he had at the Ageas Bowl. That outing came in 2018 where he notched up figures of 4/97.

Except Ishant to rule the roost once again, come the World  Test Championship final.

Ravichandran Ashwin 

Ravichandran Ashwin may not have had success at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton during his one and only outing in 2014 but the right-arm off-spinner has come a long way since then.

Ashwin was at the peak of his powers during the winter against Australia (in Australia) where he got the better of Steve Smith on a number of occasions and then against England on home soil.

In 7 Tests, the veteran off-spinner claimed as many as 44 wickets at a stupendous average of 18.56 with three five-wicket hauls.

As mentioned earlier, Ashwin struggled at the Ageas Bowl in his maiden outing in 2014 where he managed 3 wickets across two innings at 41.33, but with the amount of experience that he now has at his disposal and given the form he is in, except the champion bowler to play a defining role in the WTC final.

Jasprit Bumrah

Of-course, Jasprit Bumrah, who else?

Jasprit Bumrah enjoyed himself during his last outing at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, claiming four wickets across two innings while giving nothing away in return.

Bumrah finished as the 4th highest wicket-taker for India in the World Test Championship cycle- 34 wickets in 17 innings at an average of 22.41 with 2 five-wicket-hauls- which also includes a hat-trick against the West Indies.

One can expect the champion pacer to once again turn up the heat in what is a marquee encounter against New Zealand next month.

Also Read: India’s Strongest Playing XI For The World Test Championship Final vs New Zealand